Brooklyn BP Eric Adams takes selfie to celebrate free wifi at Fulton Mall
The more than 100,000 daily visitors to Fulton Mall, one of the busiest retail strips in America, now have free WiFi thanks to a new program that will build and maintain a free public WiFi network in Downtown Brooklyn. As part of the project, free WiFi hotspots will also be provided to up to 100 small businesses and 1,000 residents in Downtown Brooklyn. The effort is being launched by the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership (DBP); PTS in partnership with DAS Communications; Fon, a global WiFi network; and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) to provide WiFi to the area bordered by Schermerhorn Street, Cadman Plaza West, Flatbush Avenue, and Tillary Street, along with select public spaces in the NYCHA Ingersoll and Whitman Houses. The Fulton Street corridor is the first section to go live as part of the program and to celebrate, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams posed for a “selfie” in Albee Square today with local business owners, shoppers, and college students that he then posted on Twitter. DBP is administering the WiFi network with funds it received as one of five winners of NYCEDC’s Wireless Corridor Challenge.
“With help from the City, PTS, DAS, and Fon to expand our public WiFi network, we’re ensuring that Downtown Brooklyn remains on the cutting edge and a place where everyone can access needed amenities,” said Downtown Brooklyn Partnership President Tucker Reed. “A strong WiFi network also allows Downtown Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Tech Triangle to continue to attract companies that are driving the innovation economy and foster tech firms looking for a neighborhood that caters to their business and quality of life needs.”