March 23, 2023
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Delivery of Completion of Nation’s Largest Municipal Broadband Comes Ahead of Schedule
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Chief Technology Officer and New York City Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) Commissioner Matthew Fraser today announced the expansion of ‘Big Apple Connect’ — the nation’s largest municipal broadband program — by nearly 50 percent, providing free internet and basic cable television service to a total of 202 New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments, and reaching approximately 300,000 New Yorkers. OTI has now expanded ‘Big Apple Connect’ to an additional 67 NYCHA developments since last year, reaching up to 40,000 new households — ahead of schedule after announced at the full launch last fall when Mayor Adams promised to install ‘Big Apple Connect’ in more than 200 NYCHA developments by the end of 2023.
“Too many underserved communities go without access to internet in their homes, preventing them from connecting with the ‘information super highway,’ said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “With the expansion of Big Apple Connect, thousands of additional low-income individuals and families can receive reliable high-speed internet access that is essential for work, school, paying bills, and online shopping for basic household needs. We must continue the fight to close the pervasive digital divide in our country and provide every American with vital technological resources, no matter their zip code or socioeconomic status.”
“Six months ago, I promised that we would bridge the digital divide for NYCHA residents, and today I’m proud to deliver on that commitment ahead of schedule,” said Mayor Adams. “With this expansion of ‘Big Apple Connect,’ the nation’s largest municipal broadband program to more than 200 NYCHA developments, more than 300,000 New Yorkers now have access to internet and cable TV for free. Internet isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity, and today we’re proud to connect hundreds of thousands more New Yorkers to opportunities and to the future.”
“‘Big Apple Connect’s’ expansion marks a continued effort by this administration to close the digital divide and prioritize equity across our city,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “Your zip code or neighborhood should not define whether or not you have access to critically needed internet services. I applaud Chief Technology Officer Fraser’s commitment for delivering on a promise to reach hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers across over 200 NYCHA developments.”
“A better-connected New York City is a safer, more prosperous, and more equitable New York City,” said Chief Technology Officer and OTI Commissioner Fraser. “‘Big Apple Connect’s’ expansion ensures that thousands of students, families, jobseekers, and older adults living in public housing now have the broadband access needed to fully participate in our modern society. I am grateful to Mayor Adams for his action-oriented commitment to bridging the digital divide, and I thank Altice and Charter for their partnership on this landmark project.”
“As we learned during the pandemic, access to high-speed internet is a necessity