Access to the Internet is key for many participants at the AHA’s annual meetings. Whether it’s to use the Registration Resource Center, contact colleagues through e-mail, or find the closest Ethiopian restaurant, the Internet is a necessity. And, although all of the meeting hotels charge for in room Internet, there are still a number of ways to get free access (some in close proximity to coffee).

Internet Café
The first, and most accessible, Internet option is the Internet Café on the second floor of the Exhibit Hall, in Americas Hall II in the Hilton (please note that you must have an AHA annual meeting badge to enter the Exhibit Hall). In the Café those who’ve brought their own computers should be able to connect to the Internet through a free wireless connection, while those without can use the Messaging Center computers to get online.

Free Wifi Map
For meeting attendees interested in venturing beyond the annual meeting headquarters walls to get online, we’ve created an interactive map to show you what’s available nearby. Keep reading for more information on what the map includes.

New York Public Libraries
A number of New York Public libraries provide free wireless Internet. On the AHA New York Wifi map we’ve listed the two closest libraries (both 0.7 miles from headquarters) with free wifi: the 58th St. Branch and the Cathedral Branch.

Coffee and Sandwich Shops
Free WiFi and coffee go together like bees and honey. There are a number of cafes and coffee shops with free wireless near the annual meeting headquarters (ranging from 0.3 to 1.5 miles away). Two locations of ‘wichcraft, a sandwich and coffee shop that provides free wireless at all its locations, are nearby and are offering AHA meeting attendees a complimentary cup of coffee with their order. Also check the map for the addresses to Digby’s Café, Cosi, and Starwich, all which offer free wireless.

Parks
While the annual meeting will be held during the chilly month of January, it should be noted that a number of parks offer free wireless. The closest options near the meeting are Bryant Park and Central Park’s Merchants’ Gate. See the Downtown Alliance’s list of wired parks for more information and other options.

Hotels
Unfortunately, of the hotels being used for the meeting, only the Sheraton has free wireless, and it is limited to the lobby area.

CBS Mobile Zone
In November of 2007 CBS announced its free “Mobile Zone” in midtown Manhattan. Check out the CenterNetworks article for more information and a map of the coverage area (which pretty much encircles the annual meeting hotels). It’s worth a try, however there have been reports of spotty service.

More Options Farther Out
New York, and even just Manhattan, has many more free wireless Internet options than our free wireless map suggests. But most of these other options are farther than most annual meeting attendees would want to walk. But for those that are so inclined, there are a number of lists online with many more wireless options:

• Downtown Alliance – a list of public spaces with free wifi in Lower Manhattan
• New York Public Libraries – our free wireless map points to two New York Public Libraries with free wireless Internet, but dozens more in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island. See the full list here.
• Cosi and Panera – both Cosi and Panera offer free wireless at most of the locations. Find Cosi and Panera locations in New York online.
• Cup of NYC – this online directory of coffee shops in New York, has a special list of coffee shops with free wireless.
• The Wi-Fi FreeSpot Directory – for a downright overwhelming list of wireless Internet options in New York see this directory online.

This post first appeared on AHA Today.