Coming soon to some neighborhoods: more free Internet.
The city has created a unique public-private partnership that will bring free WiFi to nearly a dozen business and residential districts, Mayor Bloomberg announced Monday.
The program selected a handful of organizations to manage the free-access hubs in each borough — including the Flatiron District in Manhattan, Long Island City in Queens and city Housing Authority houses in Brownsville and Fort Greene in Brooklyn.
At least 10 such hubs, paid for with $3.4 million in private and $900,000 in public funds, are expected to launch in December for at least three years.
Speaking in Downtown Brooklyn, Bloomberg said the city is also launching a rating system of the connectivity of commercial buildings.
The ratings — ranging from “platinum,” “gold” and “silver” to “connected” — will help prospective businesses choose buildings with better broadband and infrastructure options before setting up shop.
So far, 10 city real-estate firms, which collectively own more than 150 buildings, have signed up for the program, known as WiredNYC.
“If New York City is going to remain competitive in the global economy, we must find ways to support the entrepreneurs who are driving technological advances and creating jobs,” said Bloomberg.