Something tells me the will actually be ""free"" Wi-Fi Hot Spots.
(i.e. if you have 2 valid forms of ID proving you live 4 blocks from the hot spot and you are willing to spend 5 minutes filling out web forms and you only want to visit one of 50 sanctioned websites and you are willing to receive notification emails and your computer is Windows 8.1 but doesn't have the incompatible service pack installed that the java applet crashes on and you happen to catch it on a day when it's working and you can get the webbeams login url to redirect properly and you don't accidentally scroll down while the login page is loading and you click through the screens about the new street sweeping schedule you will be able to browse the web for 17.5 minutes.)
That's extreme. This is just a swing toward turning internet access into utilities like electricity and water which are available without being tied to your residence. You still have public street lights and public water fountains outside your home. Likewise, internet is slowly moving away form this "thing" you always have to pay for to stay connected.
Verizon, TWC, Optimum, Comcast et al require that you have an account with them to use their hotspots. But you don't need an account with ConEd to be able to read your newspaper or book out on the street. This is where internet is headed.
McDonalds, Starbucks, and many other private companies, all do not require an account, many don't even require you buy anything.
Counting street lights as electricity is a bit of reach. Last I checked to have electrical service or water service I actually had to have an account. After all, where would they provide it?
"Advertisers can reach subway riders in many ways such as sponsorship of Free Wi-Fi, landing page banner advertisements, video advertisements and application downloads"
(i.e. if you have 2 valid forms of ID proving you live 4 blocks from the hot spot and you are willing to spend 5 minutes filling out web forms and you only want to visit one of 50 sanctioned websites and you are willing to receive notification emails and your computer is Windows 8.1 but doesn't have the incompatible service pack installed that the java applet crashes on and you happen to catch it on a day when it's working and you can get the webbeams login url to redirect properly and you don't accidentally scroll down while the login page is loading and you click through the screens about the new street sweeping schedule you will be able to browse the web for 17.5 minutes.)