San Francisco residents now have free Wi-Fi Internet access in over 30 public places. After the plan was announced 15 months ago, Wi-Fi is now available in playgrounds, recreation centers, plazas and parks thanks to $608,000 in funding from Google.
Visitors of the public spaces can now upload a selfie, update their status or send a text on their Wi-Fi enabled devices in places like Alamo Square, Union Square, Boeddeker Park, Balboa Park, Richmond Recreation Center, and Tenderloin Children's Rec Center. Visitors can log in by selecting the "#sfwifi" Internet option on their devices.
"Wi-Fi in our city's parks is another step toward a larger vision of connectivity for our city as a whole, bridging the digital divide and ensuring that our diverse communities have access to innovation," San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee says.
With its head office located in nearby Mountain View, bringing public Wi-Fi to San Francisco is going along with Google's mission of providing Internet access to those without, as well as improving its image with local residents. Many tech giants in the San Francisco area have been criticized by locals for the amount of wealth the companies make and how that money doesn't go back into the neighborhoods. As a result, the cost of living and the price of property increases.
Going online is now "as easy as heading to the local park," Rebecca Prozan from Google says of the initiative that makes "the web more accessible than ever for thousands of our neighbors." The grant from Google paid for the Wi-Fi equipment and installation, as well as maintenance costs for two years.
Wi-Fi was previously available in City Hall, San Francisco International Airport, libraries, part of the Market Street corridor and at public housing buildings. But the Google project will continue to help low-income kids who now can access the web for homework for free. "It's a step toward leveling the playing field," says Rodney Chin, executive director of the Buchanan YMCA.
According to Miguel Gamino, acting San Francisco CIO, the free public Wi-Fi is "full broadband class speed," similar to services like Xfinity or U-verse. City officials say that data will not be collected from locals who use the free Wi-Fi.
