NYCwireless is a non-profit organization that advocates for free public wireless networks in New York City. It was founded in 2001 to share Wi-Fi internet access with neighbors. NYCwireless has partnered with organizations to provide over 100 hotspots in parks and districts across lower Manhattan. The organization is run by volunteers and holds monthly meetings to discuss expanding free wireless access and using it to benefit communities.

1. World Summit for Free
Information Infrastructures:
NYCwireless
October 1, 2005
Laura Forlano and Dana Spiegel
dana@nycwireless.net
www.nycwireless.net
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License

2. What is NYCwireless
• Non-profit organization that advocates and helps
create free public wireless networks
• Promote Open Wireless Hotspots in Public Spaces
• Provide a forum for Wireless Networking
• Advocate of Wireless Community Networking
• Promote public spectrum
• “Using the Public Airwaves to Connect and
Strengthen Communities in New York City”
• http://www.nycwireless.net
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 2

3. Brief History
• Founded in Summer 2001 by Anthony Townsend
and Terry Schmidt to share use new Wi-Fi
technology to share Internet with neighbors
• Partnerships with New York City park organizations
and business districts to provide free, public
Internet access to citizens
• Tompkins Square Park, Bryant Park, Union Square
Park, City Hall Park, South Street Seaport and 7
other hotspots in lower Manhattan
• Over 100 additional hotspots provided by local
residents
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 3

4. Structure
• All volunteer board of directors (7 members),
special interest group (SIG) leaders and general
members (approximately 60 members, $25/year)
and listserv (700 members)
• Applications, Arts and Social Impact SIGs
• Monthly meetings (40-50 participants, always
changing, diverse group) and SIG meetings (10-15
participants)
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 4

5. Engaging Community
• More than technology
• Get the community talking
• Volunteer projects
• Use wireless technology to transform and help local
communities
• Create and use facilitating software
• Explore new forms of art made possibly through
wireless technology
• Engage commerce
• Visibility
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 5

6. WifiDog
• Open-source, centralized hotspot management
system from IleSansFil in Montreal
• Uses OpenWrt based Linksys Routers and other
Linux APs
• Provides a way to distribute local information and
content
• Set up as a local New York resource
• Planning to integrate Freifunk Mesh
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 6

7. WifiDog (cont’d.)
http://auth.nycwireless.net
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 7

8. Wi-Fi Thank You
http://www.wifithankyou.com
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 8

9. Wi-Fi Thank You (cont’d.)
http://www.wifithankyou.com
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 9

10. Neighbornode
http://www.neighbornode.net
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 10

11. sociableCHAT
http://www.sociableDESIGN.com
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 11

12. Art & Events
• Reach out to extended, local communities
• Use public space and demonstrate network
• Add visibility to the organization and to the
network
• Make wireless accessible
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 12

13. Wireless Park Lab Days
http://www.nycwireless.net/labdays
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 13

14. New York Live
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 14

15. Spectropolis (Oct. 1-3, 2004)
http://www.spectropolis.info
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 15

16. Visibility
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 16

17. Outreach
• Undertake projects that address social needs in
New York City
• Educate communities about wireless technologies
• Bring free Wi-Fi to low-income and underprivileged
areas
• Create a sustainable network and social
infrastructure
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 17

18. Community Access
• Nonprofit organization providing
transitional housing for mentally
ill residents
• 3 Buildings — East Village,
Brooklyn, Bronx
• Volunteers installed network
• Performed site survey, developed
budget for equipment and
installed a wireless network
• Ongoing technical support and
follow-up study in progress
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 18

19. Katrina Disaster Relief
• Terry Schmidt and Dustin Goodwin worked with
Cisco to restore emergency communications in
affected areas
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 19

20. Katrina Disaster Relief (cont’d.)
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 20

21. Katrina Relief
October 1, 2005 World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures 21