With Long Island Primed to Become Largest Wi-Fi Network in Nation, Schumer Unveils Ambitious New Plan for Federal Investment in Wireless Technology

With Long Island Primed To Become Largest Wi-Fi Network In Nation, Schumer Unveils Ambitious New Plan For Federal Investment In Wireless Technology

Schumer and Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy Offer Bold Vision for Next Frontier of Internet Discovery - Bringing the Weight of Federal Resources Behind Providing High Speed Access to 3 Million Residents Blanketing 1,200 Square Miles

Wi-Fi will allow residents to log on everywhere from the Long Island Rail Road to Eisenhower Park to Montauk Point, and Promote Long Island as a High-Te

In light of the rapid growth of wireless internet access in major cities across the country, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced a new plan to bring wireless, including "Wi-Fi" (wireless fidelity), high speed internet access to communities on Long Island. New York State currently ranks 31st among all 50 states in percentage of households with an internet connection. Schumer's plan includes creating a federal pilot project for Long Island, expansive new federal resources and rules to protect wireless customers from hackers and identity theft.

"In a world that is increasingly reliant on high speed, easily accessible Internet, not having high speed Internet access is like not having air to breathe," said Schumer. "Broadband technology is the lifeblood of the new economy and it is more important than ever for the federal government to invest in high speed, universal Internet access throughout the country. Wireless networks will allow residents, businesses, and visitors to connect wherever they may be and keep Long Island at the forefront of the 21st Century economy by attracting new types of cutting-edge, high-tech business."

"Suffolk County and Long Island have been leaders in many areas of computer technology, and we believe government can play an active role in encouraging and enabling the creation of a system to serve all of Long Island with universal, affordable or even free broadband access," said County Executive Levy, who unveiled his desire for a countywide, accessible wireless network in his State of the County address this past January. "Wi-Fi has us on the brink of a new era of possibilities. I thank Senator Schumer for recognizing the importance of this initiative to the region and for focusing on bringing federal resources to this and other municipalities throughout the state that are seeking to harness the power of this exciting technological opportunity."

Schumer today said that Long Island residents, businesses, and visitors do not have sufficient access to high-speed wireless internet that is critical to business development in the 21st Century economy. This new infrastructure and wireless capability will promote Long Island as a high-tech region, attract new companies, and boost the local economy. For the public, there is the promise of Internet service in places where they would otherwise not have it: riding on the Long Island Rail Road, sitting on the boardwalk at Jones Beach, enjoying a day at Eisenhower Park, or even spending the day on a boat in the Great South Bay. Wi-Fi will also offer great benefits to emergency responders, police and fire, and increased productivity and efficiencies for local governments.

According to an analysis done by ECC Associates, a New York internet consulting firm, roughly 12 percent of homes in New York could not have access to a broadband connection, meaning they could not get high speed service (except for expensive satellite service) if they wanted. According to FCC data, there are 2,833,478 residences in New York connected to high speed internet lines.

The presence of Wi-Fi networks in cities and towns on Long Island would offer nearly 3 million residents and the business community, which may not ordinarily have access to the web, the ability to utilize high-speed, inexpensive internet anywhere in Nassau or Suffolk counties, from Long Beach to Montauk Point. In addition, creating wireless high-speed internet would connect downtowns to the 21st century economy and attract new types of high-tech businesses to Long Island.

Right now, most wireless "hot spots" are limited to chain restaurants, coffee shops, and hotels (McDonalds, Starbucks, and Best Western provide Wi-Fi access). However, some communities across Long Island, such as Glen Cove and Fire Island, and even several marinas have created small networks to cover public places. Schumer and Levy's plan would cover all 1,200 square miles of the region. County Executive Levy has already issued a Request for Proposals and is reviewing the responses from interested project partners. Recently, a phone survey was conducted of 400 people across Long Island and 67.8% supported the project.

In an effort to promote federal investment in the burgeoning new frontier of high-speed, universal wireless Internet access, Schumer today proposed a 3 point plan to bring Wi-Fi to Long Island. A wireless broadband system would allow residents, businesses, and visitors to connect to the Internet from anywhere across the 1,200 square miles of Suffolk and Nassau counties.

First, Schumer plans to introduce legislation to create a federal pilot project on Long Island. The Department of Commerce would designate Long Island as a model region and authorize $5 million to invest in the development of what would be the largest Wi-Fi network in the nation geographically. Further, Schumer's bill would establish an FCC regional resource facility to assist local governments such as Suffolk, the private sector, and the academic community. Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy has begun to develop a public-private partnership with companies such as CA and Symbol with Brookhaven National Lab and Stony Brook University's Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology.

Second, in a letter Schumer wrote to the Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce, he urged the federal government to provide a comprehensive resource to communities looking to start wi-fi networks. Specifically, Schumer called on the Secretary of Commerce to create a series of federal standards and best practices for creating wireless networks so communities who want to create these networks can navigate through any potential problems and can create a system that suits their needs. He also urged the establishment of a full time staffer employed by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to act as a federal one-stop-shop for community leaders and local governments. And lastly, Schumer called on the NTIA to encourage public private-partnerships between communities and service providers to reduce cost and increase access to consumers by creating a comprehensive data based of certified companies' that provide and can create these networks.

Third, Schumer urged the Commerce Department to coordinate with the FBI to craft a set of specific security standards to protect wireless users against ID theft and crime as there are currently no security rules or best practices to protect computers on wi-fi networks. Lastly, Schumer asked the Secretary of Commerce to work cooperatively with the General Service Administration to require that all federal buildings be linked to the network for municipalities that set up wi-fi.

Schumer was joined by Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, Dr. Shirley Strum Kenny, President of Stony Brook University, Yacov Shamash, Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Vice President for Economy Development at Stony Brook University, Peter Goldsmith, President of the Long Island Software & Technology Network, and Sharon Cates-Williams, Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Information Technology.

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/record.cfm?id=264741&&year=2006&