But if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. What else might these hotspots do? Insert header "permacookies" to enable tracking across the web? Track people physically all over the city by their WiFi broadcasts? Provide realtime session content and user location data to NYPD? To FBI/NSA?
Please excuse my cynicism. Is it really wise to put NYC "in the middle" of your connections on purpose? Is it wise even to distribute WiFi points of presence around the city, where they can more comprehensively surveil the population? Are NYC's motives truly so benign/altruistic?