Today, Google announced a partnership with New York City and the Chelsea Improvement Project that will have Google provide free Wi-Fi for the entire lower Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea.
Chelsea, a notably diverse neighborhood, has been the center of Google’s New York offices for several years. It’s home to low-income housing, public schools, art galleries and other tech companies. “Google is proud to provide free Wi-Fi in the neighborhood we have called home for over 6 years,” said Ben Fried, COO of Google. “This network will not only be a resource for the 2000+ residents of the Fulton Houses, it will also serve the 5,000+ student population of Chelsea as well as the hundreds of workers, retail customers and tourists who visit our neighborhood every day.”
The Wi-Fi network has fittingly been named The Chelsea Wi-Fi Network and will provide access to areas between Gansevoort Street and 19th Street, from 8th Avenue to the West Side Highway, including the Chelsea Triangle, 14th Street Park, and Gansevoort Plaza.
The idea of companies working together with cities to provide free Internet definitely seems like an interesting path the future could take. As long as you’re not too concerned with corporations increasingly getting their hands into every aspect of your lives, this seems like a win-win scenario for everyone involved.
