Cablevision submits Optimum Wi-Fi proposal to MTA

Cablevision Systems Corp. said it submitted a proposal yesterday to offer its Optimum Wi-Fi network on the MTA's Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North trains.

The Bethpage-based cable and Internet company entered the bidding in response to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's request for proposals.

MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz said he was unable to say how many companies are competing for the work because they had until Wednesday to submit proposals. Wi-Fi service provides a wireless Internet connection for laptops, cell phones and hand-held gaming devices.

The Cablevision Wi-Fi network would be free to Optimum Online customers, according to a news release. Nonsubscribers would be charged a "reasonable" fee.

Cablevision, which owns Newsday, believes it offers the best plan because it already has tens of thousands of access points in the metropolitan area and already offers Wi-Fi on the train platforms and parking lots of nearly 200 MTA commuter rail stations, said Kevin Curran, Cablevision's senior vice president of wireless product development.

"We aren't starting from ground zero," he said. "We already have a tremendous amount of the network in place."

The company said it would assume all the costs associated with extending its Wi-Fi network to the trains, which would include equipping the 2,300 cars with routers and antennas, Curran added.

Verizon Communications Inc. did not submit a bid, said spokesman John Bonomo.

"Verizon considered the opportunity to provide Wi-Fi on the commuter rails, and decided not to enter a bid," he said.

Ortiz said the MTA would select a provider "sooner rather than later."