NEW YORK CITY-A big technology-related announcement by Mayor Michael Bloomberg Monday stands to hold the feet of commercial property owners to the fire when it comes to their declarations of the broadband connectivity and technology infrastructure of their buildings. But it appears property owners are ready for the change: 10 big name companies have signed on to participate in the program.

Meanwhile, the Mayor says, the city also is set to provide free public WiFi service in a variety of spots in all five boroughs. The offering will be launched in Manhattan in the Flatiron District; along the Water street corridor and the East River waterfront in Lower Manhattan; the 125^th street corridor in Harlem and on Roosevelt Island; in Brooklyn along the Fulton Street corridor; the BAM Cultural District; Brownsville and Downtown Brooklyn; and on Roosevelt Island; in Queens around Long Island City; in Staten Island in the St. George commercial district; and in the Bronx on Fordham Road, as well as in other areas citywide.

On the commercial side, the city has introduced WiredNYC, a rating platform that evaluates the broadband connectivity and infrastructure of office buildings. Launched and now operated on behalf of the city by Jared Kushner, CEO of Kushner Cos., WiredNYC has enlisted the participation of ten of the city's largest real estate owners, including Rudin Management, SL Green Realty, Forest City Ratner and Vornado, with over 150 buildings currently signed up for the program—representing approximately 100 million square feet of office space. Forest City already has Forest City Ratner CEO MaryAnne Gilmartin. “We are thrilled to receive received a Platinum broadband designation for MetroTech.