Re: New York City Finds New Use For Old Pay Phones: Wi-Fi Hotspots

[News]

On 7/12/2012 12:30 PM, Michelle Steiner wrote:
> As the last sentence says, other cities take note.
>
> -- Michelle
>
> http://www.pcworld.com/article/259119/new_york_city_finds_new_use_for_old_pa
> y_phones_wifi_hotspots.html
>
> Here's a good idea. New York City wants to repurpose old pay phone kiosks
> by turning the locations into Wi-Fi hotspots across the city’s five
> boroughs.
>
> Many of these pay phone kiosks have fallen into disrepair as the telephone
> companies that used to operate them spend less and less time on their
> upkeep. Residents complain that many of the kiosks have become unsightly
> and crime magnets.
>
> The city seems to believe that giving a new purpose to these pay phones
> addresses these important concerns, as well as providing more Internet
> access around the city.
>
> Ten locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens were brought online
> Wednesday. The city says additional hotspots would be turned on in the
> “coming months,” in places like Staten Island and the Bronx. The service is
> free and available to passersby within 300 feet of these kiosks. Currently
> the service includes no advertisements.
>
> That’s likely not to last: Each installation costs about $2,000, and is
> being paid for by Van Wagner Communications and Titan Communication, which
> own a majority of the city’s 13,000 pay phones.
>
> Try a Hotspot Out
> If you live in or are traveling to New York City, here’s the official list
> of initial phone kiosk hotspot locations:
>
> Brooklyn
> Brooklyn Heights-Cobble Hill: 545 Albee Square and 2 Smith Street
> Queens
> Astoria: 30-94 Steinway Street
> Manhattan
> SoHo: 402 West Broadway
> Fur-Flower District: 458 Seventh Avenue
> Theater District-Clinton: 28 West 48th Street
> Grand Central-United Nations: 410 Madison Avenue
> Midtown-Clinton: 1609 Broadway and 1790 Broadway
> Upper West Side: 230 West 95th Street
> Other cities, take note!
>
>
>
> --
> "With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the
> first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us
> all irrevocably." These words were uttered by Judge Aaron Satie -- as
> a wisdom, and warning. The first time any man's freedom is trodden
> on, we're all damaged.
>


Nice thought, but the life of a pay phone kiosk was hard knocks at best,
not to mention "fallen into disrepair" and "unsightly and crime magnets".

What makes the City and these vendors think it will be able to maintain
uptime on a wireless hotspot?

[News]

On 7/12/2012 12:52 PM, Michelle Steiner wrote:

> In article <jtmuq8$8e6$1...@dont-email.me>, News <Ne...@Groups.Post> wrote:
>
>> What makes the City and these vendors think it will be able to maintain
>> uptime on a wireless hotspot?
>

> Wishful thinking?
>

Apparently.

[Alan Browne]

On 2012-07-12 12:30 , Michelle Steiner wrote:

> The city seems to believe that giving a new purpose to these pay phones
> addresses these important concerns, as well as providing more Internet
> access around the city.
>
> Ten locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens were brought online
> Wednesday. The city says additional hotspots would be turned on in the
> “coming months,” in places like Staten Island and the Bronx. The service is
> free and available to passersby within 300 feet of these kiosks. Currently
> the service includes no advertisements.
>
> That’s likely not to last: Each installation costs about $2,000, and is
> being paid for by Van Wagner Communications and Titan Communication, which
> own a majority of the city’s 13,000 pay phones.
>
> Try a Hotspot Out
> If you live in or are traveling to New York City, here’s the official list
> of initial phone kiosk hotspot locations:

It's a good idea - at least as a pilot project. The hardlines in place
can be used for data (DSL) and power to the devices can come from
whatever drove the lights (or over spare phone lines to the spot). So
there are no (severe) last mile issues.

In the "better" areas it should work well as that's where the more
affluent users will be too, (or rather less destitute) and presumably
less vandalism.

--
"Civilization is the limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities."
-Samuel Clemens.

[houn...@yahoo.co.uk]

Why don't they just set the whole city up for wireless and then replace
phone booths with new-generation emergency call boxes, such as fire,
police and ambulance?

[Bert Hyman]

In news:michelle-E48875...@news.eternal-september.org

Michelle Steiner <mich...@michelle.org> wrote:

> As the last sentence says, other cities take note.

> ...

> Each installation costs about $2,000,

I'm sure they will.

--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN be...@iphouse.com

[Joe Dee]

On Thu, 12 Jul 2012 18:13:59 -0400, houn...@yahoo.co.uk wrote
(in article <L_HLr.810798$PV.1...@fx09.am4>):

> Why don't they just set the whole city up for wireless and then replace
> phone booths with new-generation emergency call boxes, such as fire,
> police and ambulance?
>

What do you mean by "the whole city"? All five boroughs? Any idea what that
would cost? What comes after a gazillion... (didn't George W. once ask "how
much is a Brazilian?"? It might be that much.)

Besides, it just took them 15 years or so to remove all the emergency call
boxes, so I don't think they'll want to put them or their modern equivalent
back.

No, I don't have any idea how much it would cost, but I know it's too much.

--
Joe Dee
Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator,
but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh.
   -- WH Auden

[George Kerby]

On 7/12/12 5:13 PM, in article L_HLr.810798$PV.1...@fx09.am4,

They tried that a few years ago here in Houston. The voters even approved
funding, but a study proved the whole thing to be non-workable.

An interesting read on the subject...

<http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/news/2007/09/muni_wifi/?currentPage=all>

[Wes Groleau]

On 07-12-2012 12:30, Michelle Steiner wrote:
> As the last sentence says, other cities take note.

My city claims to have free WiFi.

But it doesn't work.

Almost anywhere I go, my iPhone asks me if I want to connect to it, but
is never able to actually get a connection.

--
Wes Groleau

“The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers
that it can bribe the public with the public’s money.”
— Alexis de Tocqueville

[RocketSurgeon]

On 7/12/12 9:30 AM, Michelle Steiner wrote:
> As the last sentence says, other cities take note.
>

> -- Michelle
>
> http://www.pcworld.com/article/259119/new_york_city_finds_new_use_for_old_pa
> y_phones_wifi_hotspots.html
>
> Here's a good idea. New York City wants to repurpose old pay phone kiosks
> by turning the locations into Wi-Fi hotspots across the city’s five
> boroughs.
>
> Many of these pay phone kiosks have fallen into disrepair as the telephone
> companies that used to operate them spend less and less time on their
> upkeep. Residents complain that many of the kiosks have become unsightly
> and crime magnets.
>

> The city seems to believe that giving a new purpose to these pay phones
> addresses these important concerns, as well as providing more Internet
> access around the city.
>
> Ten locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens were brought online
> Wednesday. The city says additional hotspots would be turned on in the
> “coming months,” in places like Staten Island and the Bronx. The service is
> free and available to passersby within 300 feet of these kiosks. Currently
> the service includes no advertisements.
>
> That’s likely not to last: Each installation costs about $2,000, and is
> being paid for by Van Wagner Communications and Titan Communication, which
> own a majority of the city’s 13,000 pay phones.
>
> Try a Hotspot Out
> If you live in or are traveling to New York City, here’s the official list
> of initial phone kiosk hotspot locations:
>

<< Snipped bits out >>
Here's an eight year old thread that raises an interesting question;
does anyone have a followup?

Sad to say, the author was drummed out of usenet by trolls and/or
shitheads.

[Alan Browne]

From what I remember of Michelle she wasn't the kind to be drummed out
of anywhere she'd rather remain. I traded a few e-mails with her back
in the day...

--
"...there are many humorous things in this world; among them the white
man's notion that he is less savage than the other savages."
-Samuel Clemens

[RocketSurgeon]

On 11/13/20 12:53 PM, Alan Browne wrote:
> On 2020-11-13 15:48, RocketSurgeon wrote:
>> On 7/12/12 9:30 AM, Michelle Steiner wrote:
>
>> Sad to say, the author was drummed out of usenet by trolls and/or
>> shitheads.
>
> From what I remember of Michelle she wasn't the kind to be drummed out
> of anywhere she'd rather remain.  I traded a few e-mails with her back
> in the day...
>

So did I. Drummed out isn't the best word. She left in disgust, IIRC.

BTW Alan, you replied to this thread way back. Any thoughts on this? Or
experience with cities that have implemented same?

[John McWilliams]

On 11/13/20 PDT 1:12 PM, Jolly Roger wrote:

> On 2020-11-13, RocketSurgeon <48fo...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On 7/12/12 9:30 AM, Michelle Steiner wrote:
>>> As the last sentence says, other cities take note.
>>>
>>> -- Michelle
>>>
>>> http://www.pcworld.com/article/259119/new_york_city_finds_new_use_for_old_pa
>>> y_phones_wifi_hotspots.html
>>>

>> << Snipped bits out >>
>>
>> Here's an eight year old thread that raises an interesting question;
>> does anyone have a followup?
>

> Here you go: <https://www.link.nyc>
>
Thank you, but not interested in links. Just folks' experience.

[Savageduck]

On Nov 13, 2020, Alan Browne wrote
(in article <3nCrH.502433$zX4.1...@fx41.iad>):

> On 2020-11-13 15:48, RocketSurgeon wrote:
> > On 7/12/12 9:30 AM, Michelle Steiner wrote:
>
> > Sad to say, the author was drummed out of usenet by trolls and/or
> > shitheads.
>
> From what I remember of Michelle she wasn't the kind to be drummed out
> of anywhere she'd rather remain. I traded a few e-mails with her back
> in the day...

If that is Michelle from AZ you are talking about, she does/did not suffer fools easily.

--
Regards,
Savageduck

[Savageduck]

On Nov 13, 2020, John McWilliams wrote
(in article <romt4g$h0v$1...@dont-email.me>):

“LinkNYC” is the actual name of the communications network under discussion. That is a legitimate URL and the site is worth a few minutes of exploration.

--
Regards,
Savageduck

[John McWilliams]

Thank you. Interesting.

[John McWilliams]

On 11/13/20 PDT 1:26 PM, Jolly Roger wrote:
> On 2020-11-13, Jolly Roger <jolly...@pobox.com> wrote:

>> You asked or a status update. So I looked up the name of the
>> initiative, found the official website where they tell you exactly the
>> kind of information you claim to want to know (all of which you could
>> have done yourself in a matter of seconds), and that's the thanks I
>> get.
>>
>> Your behavior is noted for future interactions.
>
> LOL... I just realized you're not even the person who asked the
> question.
>
> Fuck off, chump. Nobody in this thread asked for your input.
>
Wow. Ever since you came to these NG's the tone has gotten worse every
year.

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 13.11.20 um 22:26 schrieb Jolly Roger:

> Fuck off, chump. Nobody in this thread asked for your input.

This is not your private conversation, dear. This is usenet and it is
certainly none of your business who contributes and when.

[Alan Browne]

On 2020-11-13 15:57, RocketSurgeon wrote:
> On 11/13/20 12:53 PM, Alan Browne wrote:
>> On 2020-11-13 15:48, RocketSurgeon wrote:
>>> On 7/12/12 9:30 AM, Michelle Steiner wrote:
>>
>>> Sad to say, the author was drummed out of usenet by trolls and/or
>>> shitheads.
>>
>>  From what I remember of Michelle she wasn't the kind to be drummed
>> out of anywhere she'd rather remain.  I traded a few e-mails with her
>> back in the day...
>>
> So did I. Drummed out isn't the best word. She left in disgust, IIRC.

Still not convinced that's the root cause.

>
> BTW Alan, you replied to this thread way back. Any thoughts on this? Or
> experience with cities that have implemented same?

I don't recall replying to it and I'm somewhat disinterested at present.

Almost everywhere I go I have more than ample connectivity via my iPhone
and that includes using it as a hotspot for my laptop, iPad or in one 2
week long case for my SO's iPhone...

IME where free WiFi exists it's of very variable quality and often over
subscribed to the point of near uselessness. Why, when I travel, I
often purchase a SIM for a local telCo - unless on vacation where I tend
to tune out as much as possible.

[Alan Browne]

You're RocketSurgeon?

[Lewis]

Yeah, someone asked a question, gets and answer, and you jump in whining
the answer wasn't the answer you wanted.

What a fucking cunt.


--
I think I'm a clone now,
There's always two of me
Just a-hangin' around

[*Hemidactylus*]

I recall a Michelle prominent in the Mac groups.

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 14.11.20 um 00:27 schrieb Jolly Roger:

> You can fuck off too. : ) Neither of you have contributed anything
> nearly as helpful as I have in this thread, which is clear for all to
> see.

You are childish and you always try to act as a net cop.
Why should I contribute in a local issue?

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 14.11.20 um 00:32 schrieb Jolly Roger:
> A good netizen always searches for the solution on their own before
> asking for others for help. But since they both apparently are here in
> this thread primarily to troll, we can't expect that much of them.


The only Troll I can see is you. And again you act up as a net cop.
*PLONK*

[RocketSurgeon]

Ah, Lewis the child with a foul mouth.

[Lewis]

Ah, the dipshit sockpuppet jizz muppet.

Pink a fake name and stick with it, cunt.

--
For more than a thousand generations the Jedi were the guardians of
peace and justice in the galaxy. Before the dark times. Before
the Empire.

[Lewis]

In message <i1db4e...@mid.individual.net> Jolly Roger <jolly...@pobox.com> wrote:

> So you're okay with John McWilliams jumping into the middle of the
> thread just to make an offhand comment about not wanting to follow
> links, even though the link in question actually gives you the
> information you wanted? But someone uses some curse words, and that's
> where you draw the line?

"John" and "Rocket"'re the same idiot sockpuppet cunt.

--
"Are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
"Well, I think so, Brain, but pantyhose are so uncomfortable in the
summertime."