New York City announces new public Wi-Fi networks in bid to keep entrepreneurs coming

New York City is increasingly playing host to a number of successful startups, and Mayor Bloomberg wants to keep it that way. The city today announced a plan to bring free Wi-Fi connectivity to neighborhoods across the five boroughs. These networks, set to launch in December, will be open to the public and have strategically been placed in booming commercial districts. In Brooklyn, Wi-Fi will be available in the Fulton Street corridor, BAM Cultural District, Brownsville, and "downtown Brooklyn." In Manhattan, free connectivity will reach the Flatiron District — home to local success stories like Tumblr and Spotify's US headquarters. Wi-Fi also extends to areas in lower Manhattan, Harlem, Queens, and the Bronx. "If New York City is going remain competitive in the global economy, we must find ways to support the entrepreneurs who are driving technological advances and creating jobs,” said Mayor Bloomberg. Simultaneously, the city announced a new initiative called WiredNYC, a rating platform that's meant to evaluate broadband connectivity and infrastructure within office buildings. With the transparent measure, officials are hoping to speed up deployment of the latest high-speed broadband. Businesses will be able to see detailed data about a building’s available connectivity, and real estate landlords with the latest infrastructure will gain bragging rights when pitching their buildings to startups.