Push for free WiFi at area airports

The City Council will call on the Port Authority to offer free WiFi at its metropolitan airports on Wednesday.

A hearing will be held on a resolution introduced by Manhattan borough-president elect Gale Brewer calling on the authority to change its contract with Boingo, which offers paid wireless service at LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark Airport.

“Fifteen of the twenty largest airports in the U.S. have free wireless,” said Brewer. “We are getting known as a great tech city– but the gateways are lagging behind in WiFi access.”

The Port Authority signed a 15-year contract with Boingo that is almost up, and can be renewed over the next six months for ten years.

Advocacy group Global Gateway Alliance will be testifying at the hearing and said they will mail Grinch awards to Boingo this week.

Chairman Joe Sitt said he hopes the resolution “will spark Boingo to finally do the right thing for the 110 million passengers who use our airports.”

US airports that already offer free Wi-Fi include those in Boston, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Seattle and Los Angeles. Flyers in New York City and Newark have to cough up $4.95 an hour and $7.95 for a day.