Village, County Collaborate to Offer Free Wi-Fi Access

Free Wi-Fi has arrived in Babylon Village thanks to a $25,000 Suffolk County grant and a collaborative effort between county and village officials.

While wireless Internet isn't new in the village downtown, as local businesses including Babylon Bean-Coffee Extreme provide customers with free access, the project does mark Babylon Village as the first in the county to provide free Wi-Fi to residents and businesses.

New Wi-Fi antennas have created several hotspots around the downtown area: from the Gazebo on Main Street and  running east to Route 231; from the intersection of Main Street and Deer Park Avenue, running north along Deer Park Avenue to the Long Island Rail Road overpass, and a hotspot at the village marina. The antennas were installed by Corporate Bizness.

Babylon Village Chamber President Jon Taylor described the effort as a "serious benefit" to the business community.

"It will allow easy on-line access for our business associates, vendors, and visitors to the village," Taylor told Patch. "Not only does it provide the obvious business advantages, but will also allow visitors to access information on what is happening in our village, in a real-time, dynamic way.  The village is to be commended for moving forward with this project to the benefit of our businesses, residents, and visitors alike."

The effort will formally be announced today at a 12:30 p.m. press conference held by Legislator Wayne Horsley and Babylon Village Mayor Ralph Scordino at Barrique Restaurant.

According to a press statement, Horsley secured the necessary funding while Scordino oversaw the planning and implementation. 

"Once again Babylon Village is on the cutting edge and has pushed to the next step in community services. With the recent installation of Wi-Fi antennas, we have made free Internet available to every patron and business owner in the village's downtown as well as visitors to Argyle Park," said Horsely in the statement.