Back in July we noted how the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) was exploring the idea of offering wireless broadband service on the organization's New York area commuter trains. Cablevision says they've submitted their response to the MTA, suggesting the agency use Cablevision's Wi-Fi network, which the company started offering free to Cablevision customers late last year. The project was part of a $300 million effort to provide Wi-Fi and upgrade the Cablevision network to DOCSIS 3.0.

According to Cablevision, more than 96% of Metro North Railroad and Long Island Railroad stations have access to their network already (see Cablevision's coverage map). The service currently offers downstream speeds up to 3 Mbps. Cablevision tells us their proposal would have them filling in the gaps between stations.

Of course the MTA doesn't want wireless broadband just for customers, but also for their internal systems. According to an RFEI document issued by the MTA, the company is also interested in using the network for electronic ticketing and wireless transfer of train diagnostic information.

"Our proposal includes capacity for the kind of MTA operational needs you mention," Cablevision spokesman Jim Maiella tells us. "We undertake all construction and operational costs - obvious benefits to riders but also in bandwidth for the MTA," he says. Given the project would be funneling customers directly to Cablevision instead of an MTA project that competes for users, the deal would obviously be higgly lucrative to Cablevision as well.