Bright House Networks, a cable company in Florida, has begun offering free Wi-Fi service (to Bright House customers) at more than 2000 Wi-Fi hotspots in central Florida, beginning with downtown Orlando and shopping centers, parks and beaches around it. People who do not subscribe Bright House’s Internet and cable service can still access the network for a fee. They can choose from hourly, weekly and monthly paid plans. Bright House says it will expand the number of hotspots to other locations in Florida and outside the state.
Bright House is not the first cable company in the United States to set up WiFi hotspots and offer free WiFi to its customers. Cablevision launched an extensive network of WiFi hotspots in New York, particularly in Long Island. Cox Communications rolled out Internet and mobile phone service in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Ohio. However, after a short time, Cox abandoned its wireless business (because it requires too great of an investment and uncertain success) and sold off its spectrum to Verizon; Cox is now reselling Verizon’s LTE service.
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