Comcast, Time Warner, and Cablevision have reportedly banded together to broaden the availability of Wi-Fi in metropolitan areas of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The cable giants have opened their Wi-Fi signals to each others' customers, so subscribers of one company's broadband service can now access hotspots from all three providers.

This pact is effective today and authentication for all three networks is present on every access point, greatly expanding the reach and value of your service. Impressively, this comes at no extra charge, and there doesn't seem to be any other apparent "catches" either. If you happen to be strolling through New York City with a Wi-Fi-equipped mobile device, give it a shot and let us know how it goes.

Cablevision executive John Bickham said the agreement was one of a kind and possibly the first of many to come, so watch for offerings in your area.