QUESTION
What progress has been made on the Big Apple Connect program and other initiatives for expanding internet connectivity in NYC?
0:56:31
·
123 sec
Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser discusses the expansion of NYC's internet connectivity programs, including public WiFi and Gigabit centers, as part of a broader effort to view the internet as a utility.
- Public WiFi usage and calls made from Link NYC kiosks continue to rise, indicating the program's success.
- A Gigabit center is established in every borough, with intentions to expand further.
- Plans include leveraging Big Apple Connect for extending rate plans to eligible buildings and incorporating digital services with other city services.
- Significant progress on these initiatives is expected within the next year, with further updates to be provided to the council.
- Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez highlights the importance of treating internet access as a utility, critical for all residents.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:56:31
Since launching Big Apple Connect, what is the agency thinking?
0:56:34
How can they do more?
Matthew Fraser
0:56:36
Yeah.
0:56:37
In addition to Big Apple Connect, we have the Link NYC program where we also in addition to running the largest municipal broke in building broadband program, we run the largest municipal public WiFi program.
0:56:51
And that continues to be a great success.
0:56:54
I mean, month to month, we see usage go We see the number of calls made from those devices also go up.
0:56:58
In addition to that, we launched a gigabit center in every borough.
0:57:02
I mean, one in every borough is not enough.
0:57:04
We'll continue to push we'll have to see what else we can do in that space.
0:57:08
And we're also looking at, as you mentioned, programs like such a need, how can we extend the rate plans that we get with Big Apple Connect to buildings that are eligible in that space.
0:57:20
We use a city And as part of the mayor's administration, the mayor ran on a working people's agenda.
0:57:25
And it's been showing that the people of the city that are are constituents, they benefit from the capital of the city extends.
0:57:33
To that end, we've worked very closely with folks public housing, folks at HPD, folks at Mhmm.
0:57:40
Folks at the office of academic opportunity to take a look at services that we render where we can piggyback on those services and also add digital services to that.
0:57:50
So I think within the next year or so, we're gonna make certainly within next year, we're going to make some major strides in many of these areas.
0:57:57
And I'd be glad to give a counsel an update once we get to one of those but we've got we've got we've got plans.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:58:03
Yeah.
0:58:04
No.
0:58:04
I'm excited.
0:58:05
I think it's really important.
0:58:06
We would love to hear more about that.
0:58:09
Certainly, the Link NYC kiosks.
0:58:12
Obviously, I think I I I think they're very helpful.
0:58:17
We've it said we're just been here a number of times, really encouraged by by kind of their long term thinking as well.
0:58:24
But I think the whole conversation around Big Apple Connect, ACP even raised this very important idea that it's it's like it's it's a it's like a utility.
0:58:32
Internet is not a luxury.
0:58:33
Right?