In an increasingly Internet-reliant world, the National Mall has jumped on the bandwagon by offering free Wi-Fi access to visitors. On Sept. 8, through a collaboration of federal, state and private institutions, D.C. residents began to enjoy wireless access in the city’s most renowned green space.

The project began in 2004 when Open Park Project, a D.C.-based nonprofit, installed a free Wi-Fi hotspot in front of the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress, the first outdoor wireless site in the city. Open Park expected that this location would be the first of many throughout the city, according to their website.

Earlier this month, D.C. city officials, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Smithsonian Institution, made Open Park’s goal a reality. Cisco and Level 3, two companies specializing in communications technologies, donated the network hardware and the Internet services, respectively, according to The Washington Times.

In a press release on the U.S. Department of Agriculture website, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed the importance of this wireless installment on the Mall.

“The Internet is now integral to our everyday lives, and this free resource will provide USDA employees, guests and the visiting public another means of staying connected,” Vilsack said.

The recent installment of wireless adds to the growing number of Wi-Fi hotspots around the city. Volta Park Recreation Center, Eastern Market and the Smithsonian museums are among the 220 or so wireless hubs around the District.

D.C. is not the only major city to become more wireless-friendly. According to the BBC, London Mayor Boris Johnson pledged in May that every corner in the city would offer wireless access to residents and visitors, even suggesting that lampposts and bus stops would house the Wi-Fi access.

Other cities in the United States have also seen wireless availability rise. In 2005, Philadelphia launched a campaign to become the first city to offer city-wide wireless coverage. The plan was halted due to disproportionate funding and interest, but the city still offers a large variety of wireless hotspots for web surfers to use. The hotspots approach, a medium between a dearth of wireless and universal access, is a common practice in many other major U.S. metropolitan areas, including D.C.

Student reaction to the prospect of Internet on the Mall is positive. Sarah Mac Dougall (SFS ’13) believes the new wireless hotspots on the Mall will increase the attractiveness of the area for both tourists and residents, as well as for students such as herself.

“I enjoy studying on the Mall because of the general environment it provides, particularly on beautiful sunny days, so having wireless will make my own studying that much easier,” Mac Dougall said. “It will increase the appeal of the Mall to other D.C.-ers since it will be easy to get work done or use the Internet recreationally.”