Nolan Announces Free Wireless Internet Access to Be Available Throughout Long Island MacArthur Airport From Cablevision’s Optimum WiFi
First Tri-state Area Airport to Offer Free WiFi to All Travelers throughout TerminalAnd In Courtesy Parking Lot
In a move designed to provide 21st Century high-tech amenities to travelers and those greeting travelers upon arrival to Long Island MacArthur Airport (LIMA), Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan announced an agreement with Cablevision to provide free Optimum WiFi wireless Internet access throughout the entire terminal and in the airport’s courtesy parking lot. The move will make LIMA the first airport in the Tri-state region to offer completely free WiFi. Optimum WiFi, the nation’s largest and most advanced WiFi network, is expected to be installed and operational this autumn in time for the busy holiday travel season.
Supervisor Nolan stated, “Working with the undisputed industry leader, Long Island MacArthur Airport will become the ‘hot spot’ for free airport WiFi in the Tri-state region. Our choice of Optimum WiFi reflects our commitment to maintain the highest standards possible for the millions of travelers who choose LIMA for its convenience.”
This is a unique opportunity to provide our Optimum WiFi wireless Internet access at a significant transportation center in the heart of our service area,” said Kevin Curran, Cablevision’s senior vice president for wireless product development. “Optimum WiFi, which is already available in high-traffic and commercial locations across Long Island, Connecticut, Westchester and New Jersey - and at hundreds of commuter rail stations - has proven to be very popular with our customers, who have already used the service to access the Web more than two million times.”
Commissioner of Aviation Teresa Rizzuto said, “Not only will travelers be able to access services like Facebook and Twitter with ease while preparing for departure, but visitors waiting in our free courtesy parking lot for friends and family to arrive will too. No other airport in the Tri-state area offers this kind of connectivity.”
According to Islip Town Councilman Christopher Bodkin, “More than two million visitors fly LIMA each year and more and more of them travel with WiFi enabled laptop computers, iPhones and smart phones such as the iPod touch and Blackberry. In these times, free WiFi is not just a perk - it’s an increasingly important productivity tool improving mobility for business and leisure travelers.”
LIMA officials issued a formal competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) in the spring challenging digital providers to create and provide free WiFi wireless network access. Although many airports now provide WiFi hot spots, none are completely free. LIMA will be the first airport in the area to provide free WiFi access throughout the terminal and courtesy parking areas. The Optimum WiFi network will deliver speeds of up to 3.0 Mbps downstream and 1.5 Mbps upstream.
About Long Island MacArthur Airport (LIMA)
The Town of Islip owns and operates Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, New York. The airport is among the top 90 airports in the United States in terms of passenger volume, which exceeded 2.1 million in 2008. More than 5,500 passengers fly LIMA each day. The airport’s two commercial carriers - Southwest Airlines and USAirways Express - are among the top ten airlines for on-time performance, contributing to LIMA’s reputation as a “no hassle” airport. The airport’s mission is to be a leader in providing safe, efficient and competitive air travel service.
About Cablevison
Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC) is one of the nation’s leading media and entertainment companies. Its cable television operations serve more than three million households in the New York Metropolitan area. The company’s advanced telecommunications offerings include its iO TV digital television, Optimum Online high-speed Internet, Optimum Voice digital voice-over-cable, and its Optimum Lightpath integrated business communications services. Cablevision operates several successful programming businesses, including AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel and WE TV, through Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, and serves the New York area as publisher of Newsday and other niche publications through Newsday Media Group. In addition, Cablevision owns Madison Square Garden and its sports teams, the New York Knicks, Rangers and Liberty. The company also operates New York’s famed Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre, and the Chicago Theatre, and owns and operates Clearview Cinemas.
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