Some politicians look at things the way they are and ask, Why? Andrew Rasiej dreams of things that never were and asks, Wi-Fi? Rasiej, a candidate for public advocate of New York City, has promised he'll do what many would consider impossible: If elected this fall to be the equivalent of a vice mayor, he will push for upgrading the city's IT backbone. That means better cell phone reception, local Google maps with crime stats, and a citywide municipal Wi-Fi network. His estimated price tag for a five-borough hot spot is $80émillion. Those who can afford to will pay $20 per month for a subscription. To underscore just how rotten the Big Apple's infrastructure is, this summer Rasiej called reporters together to witness a "phone call" from City Hall station using tin cans and string. "Most politicians here don't know the difference between a server and a waiter," he says. "That's why kids in South Korea have better Internet access than kids in the South Bronx."
- Justin R. Silverman
Andrew Rasiej
credit Ireneusz Skorupa
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The Wireless Candidate
Why's Everyone Standing Around?
