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Q&A
Comparison of Big Apple Connect to the Internet Master Plan
1:11:37
·
75 sec
Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez questions Brett Sikoff about the comparison between the $2 billion budgeted for the Internet Master Plan and the current Big Apple Connect program. They discuss the differences in funding sources, timeframes, and potential outcomes of both approaches.
- Gutiérrez points out that the $2 billion for the Internet Master Plan was not all city funding and would have been spent over years
- Sikoff acknowledges that the initial investment for the Internet Master Plan was $157 million
- The conversation highlights the differences in scope and approach between the two programs
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:11:37
In a recent interview with city and state, commissioner Frazier said that $2,000,000,000 budgeted $2,000,000,000 budgeted for the Internet master plan was too much money.
1:11:48
But if we break it down, he said that for a fraction the cost of the $2,000,000,000 program, OTI provides connectivity to over 330,000 people in the city.
1:11:59
If the city continues Big Apple Connect at its current rate, $38,000,000 per year, like we said before, The city will have spent roughly 2,000,000,000 in twenty two years.
1:12:09
That's 2,000,000,000 with no capital investment, no citywide infrastructure, and service limited only to NYCHA, to public housing.
1:12:18
Meanwhile, the Internet master plan proposed using 2,000,000,000 over potential decades to build a citywide public private broadband infrastructure that could scale, deliver long term affordability.
1:12:31
Just to clarify, are you aware that the 2,000,000,000 cited in the Internet master plan was not all city funding and would have been over years?
Brett Sikoff
1:12:38
I believe that's the case.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:12:40
Yeah.
1:12:41
And it included private investment and that the first investment was just that initial 157,000,000.
Brett Sikoff
1:12:48
Right.
1:12:48
And I believe there was more to come, but yes.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:12:50
That's right.
Brett Sikoff
1:12:51
Initially 157.