Gallery: A Field Guide to the Internet Infrastructure That Hides in Plain Sight

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    Ingrid Burrington
    01

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    __CrimeEye Cameras__ - Burrington writes: "I've only seen these cameras in lower Manhattan, and pretty much only around federal buildings. They appear to belong to the Department of Homeland Security, and are manufactured by a company named Total Recall Corporation. (Not even joking.)"
  • Image may contain Electrical Device
    Ingrid Burrington
    02

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    __NYPD Cameras__ - As part of a program called ARGUS, NYPD has several thousand of these cameras stationed around the city.
  • Image may contain Ceiling Light Lamp and Light Fixture
    Ingrid Burrington
    03

    infra2-4

    __Subway Wi-Fi Devices__ - These antennae blast signal onto city subway platforms. The system was built in partnership with Transit Wireless, starting in 2007.
  • Distributed Antenna Systems A DAS is basically a way to expand a cell network's reach adding capacity in undercovered...
    Ingrid Burrington
    04

    infra2-3

    __Distributed Antenna Systems__ - A DAS is "basically a way to expand a cell network's reach, adding capacity in under-covered areas," often denoted by an orange cable marking heading into a street pole.
  • Image may contain Text and Alphabet
    Ingrid Burrington
    05

    infra2-2

    New York City streets are covered with cryptic, colorful markings that signal the infrastructure running below. This one's easy: Cable TV.
  • Level 3 Communications Manhole Cover According to the guide this Tier 1 fiber optic network has a direct connection to...
    Ingrid Burrington
    06

    infra2-1

    __Level 3 Communications Manhole Cover__ - According to the guide, this Tier 1 fiber optic network "has a direct connection to every other network online without paying fees to do so." It also received a $400 million contract from the Department of Defense in 2012.
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