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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Digital equity initiatives at New York Public Library
0:19:11
ยท
47 sec
Tony Marx discusses the New York Public Library's efforts to address digital equity issues in the city, particularly focusing on providing WiFi access to underserved communities.
- Highlights that over a million New Yorkers lack WiFi access at home
- Mentions a $3 million grant to pilot a program providing free WiFi to up to 2,000 Section 8 tenants
- Acknowledges similar efforts by Brooklyn and Queens libraries
- Emphasizes the need for further expansion of digital access initiatives
Tony Marx
0:19:11
I mean, here we are in the city that is the center of communications in the world, and a million or more New Yorkers still don't have access to WiFi at home.
0:19:26
I mean, imagine not having broadband.
0:19:30
I mean, that was bad enough in the pandemic.
0:19:33
Now we've seen it more.
0:19:34
We've gotten a $3,000,000 grant to pilot a program with the Department of Housing and Preservation to provide free WiFi to, up to 2,000 section eight tenants, and we know that's just the start of what we need to do.
0:19:52
Brooklyn and Queens have done amazing work on this as well.
0:19:57
There is more to do.