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Q&A
Cost and funding details of the Big Apple Connect program
0:47:06
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102 sec
Council Member Gutiérrez inquires about the cost and funding of the Big Apple Connect program. Brett Sikoff from OTI confirms that the program is currently funded at approximately $38 million per year to serve 330,000 NYCHA residents. The council member notes that funding for FY25 was not seen in the current budget.
- The program would require a $190 million commitment over five years if funding is restored and baselined.
- The cost may increase if there are more subscribers.
- All of the funding would go to Altice and Spectrum for providing services, with no capital investment or infrastructure build-out included.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:47:06
Thank you.
0:47:12
Okay.
0:47:16
Can I ask about the cost of of Big Apple Connect?
0:47:19
I know you said in your in your testimony and and certainly before and the commissioner has testified that it is more affordable.
0:47:25
It's currently funded at approximately $38,000,000 per year
Christopher Leon Johnson
0:47:30
Correct.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:47:31
Serve 330,000 NYCHA residents, which again is huge.
0:47:34
That's not nothing.
0:47:36
I think it's I think that's wonderful.
0:47:40
But as noted in the prelim hearing that we had in March, we didn't see funding for f y twenty five for the current budget and wanted to make the ask.
0:47:54
I know that the response was if the funding is restored and baselined, you said in your testimony that is the goal, that it would cost it would be a hundred $90,000,000 commitment over five years?
Brett Sikoff
0:48:06
I'd have to do the the quick math, but to your point, it was roughly like 38,000,000 per year based on how many subscribers we get.
0:48:13
So if there's more subscribers, it'll increase the
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:48:16
overall cost per So I guess my question is to you, so of that, and maybe not confirming the the full amount, that is what the commissioner said though at the at the March hearing.
0:48:26
Although all those, the 180,000,000 or so would be going to these Altis and Spectrum with no capital investment or infrastructure build out.
0:48:38
Right?
0:48:39
That would be funding to sustain the 330,000 residents?
Brett Sikoff
0:48:44
Correct.
0:48:44
That's just expense funding to provide the services to the NYCHA residents.