NY’s Sen. Schumer prods MTA on wireless Internet access on rails

NY Sen. urges MTA action on wireless Internet

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. — Sen. Charles Schumer contends the commuter railroads serving New York City have been slow to implement wireless Internet service.

Schumer is calling on the MTA to follow through on plans he says have been in the works for months. He says other major mass transit systems across the United States already have on-board major wireless Internet service.

He says that puts the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad behind railroads in Texas, California and Utah.

The senator says adding wireless Internet would help improve productivity for commuters and the thousands of students who use the rails.

An MTA spokesman said the railroads are assessing the feasibility of providing the service. Responses to advertisements seeking interest on the project are due in September.