There will be free wifi for 95 blocks in Harlem, but only outside

Harlem WiFi MapIn a move seemingly designed to make Harlem more appealing to gentrifiers, Mayor Bloomberg announced that the Harlem WiFi network will be completed by May 2014 and it will be the largest continuous free outdoor public wireless network in US. But, residents without broadband access still probably won’t have it, since availability is going to be zoned for outdoor only use.

The coverage area is 95 blocks: 110 to 138 Streets between Frederick Douglass Blvd & Madison Ave.

How does Starbucks free wifi work?

Background: Starbucks offers Starbucks cardholders two hours of free wifi every day through the AT&T network. A friend has a Starbuck’s card and registered it on the Starbucks site, but she can’t log in.

I checked with an AT&T support rep who said there are a couple of ways to register a Starbucks card on their website and not all of them will get you signed up for the free AT&T wifi service. Next I spoke with Starbucks wifi support. The information they gave me (along with a couple of things I know from experience that they didn’t) should hopefully get my friend connected. read more