Pay Phones in New York City Will Become Free Wi-Fi Hot Spots.

[elleng]

In fact, the pay phone of tomorrow will include no traditional phone at all — nor any payment, for that matter, at least for communication within the United States.

But beginning next year, city officials said on Monday, the relics will evolve into something deemed far more practical: thousands of Wi-Fi hot spots across the city, providing free Internet access, free domestic calls using cellphones or a built-in keypad, a charging station for mobile devices and access to city services and directions.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/18/nyregion/pay-phones-in-new-york-city-will-become-free-wi-fi-hot-spots.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

[Cha]

1. Way cool! Mahalo ellen.. :) Mayor de Blasio.. "for a fair and just city".. from you link

Administration officials framed the move as an extension of Mr. de Blasio’s focus on inequality. Maya Wiley, counsel to the mayor, said low-income people, particularly blacks and Latinos, relied disproportionately on cellphone browsing to get online. And data charges can add up.

“It’s going to help us close the digital divide,” Ms. Wiley said during a briefing about the plan at City Hall.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

2. Makes you wonder if they will pick up on the 13th floor....

.....I mean the 14th.

[ReRe]

3. K&R

Gawd I love good news, but this goes in the great column. Thanks, elleng!

[WinkyDink]

4. Hmmm....As a person who has often used the payphones in Port Authority and who has no cell-phone,

this news bums me out. (No cell-phone for the very simple reason that I have no-one to call enough times when I'm not at home to justify the monthly cost.)

And do poor people have cell-phones? Or are they more likely to have a couple of quarters?

[mwooldri]

5. There's a cell phone "lifeline" service.

For qualified people, they can get a free basic cell phone with a free allocation of minutes and text messages. Typically, these are people whose income is below 133% of federal poverty "guidelines".

Failing that, companies like Trackfone sell basic phones (as low as $10) and low cost pay as you go plans ($15 for 3 months service, but not very many minutes or text messages). AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon offer pay as you go plans, Sprint doesn't but other companies who resell Sprint's services such as Virgin Mobile do.

Also all cell phones are required to access 911 services, even if it has been disconnected. I know some people who keep a used cellphone in their car just for this purpose.

[Sienna86]

6. Great idea.

I'm guessing they'll still keep pay phones around in some places.

[bahrbearian]

7. Just try and find a Pay Phone

[annabanana]

8. most excellent idea... n/t