If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Comcast may be preparing to follow Cablevision Systems' successful rollout of free Wi-Fi for its customers. Comcast has been testing free Wi-Fi service in parts of New Jersey.

A positive experience with the tests could have sweeping nationwide repercussions because of Comcast's nationwide footprint and because of its potential impact in the more distant future on its investment in Clearwire, which has aspirations for a nationwide rollout of mobile WiMax.

Comcast has made no formal announcement of its Wi-Fi tests, but the Associated Press reported that Comcast has installed gear at some 100 New Jersey Transit commuter rail stations and parking lots. Speeds of 1.5 Mbps are slated to be offered by Comcast, the same speeds offered by Cablevision. Comcast's cable subscribers would be asked for their same user names and passwords to use the Wi-Fi service.

Comcast's tests represent a rejuvenation of Wi-Fi, which has suffered several humiliating defeats as municipal service with some notable exceptions. For instance, Philadelphia -- once the poster boy of municipal Wi-Fi service -- dropped most of its effort to deploy Wi-Fi throughout the city. What seems to be emerging in Philadelphia and in other cities is a patchwork of Wi-Fi hotspots that don't give uninterrupted roaming ability for consumers, but still offer numerous hotspots.

Comcast's Wi-Fi tests could place it in competition with Cablevision, because both cable service providers offer service in New Jersey. Cablevision, however, has concentrated its Wi-Fi rollout -- which it calls "the nation's largest Wi-Fi network" -- in its high traffic areas of Long Island's Nassau and Suffolk counties. Comcast is the nation's largest cable provider.