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Q&A
Debate over limited competition among ISPs due to Big Apple Connect approach
0:35:32
·
53 sec
Council Member Gutiérrez expresses concerns that the Big Apple Connect program may have limited competition among Internet Service Providers (ISPs), particularly smaller providers who were involved in the previous Internet Master Plan. OTI officials defend their approach.
- Gutiérrez suggests the process limited who the city could work with, potentially excluding smaller ISPs
- She questions whether the initiative was driven by cable companies' interests or by a truly open and competitive process
- OTI officials maintain that their primary goal was to connect residents as quickly as possible
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:35:32
My my questions are just because what it I think this process that that you're sharing, while, yes, I get the intent was, like, to connect get people connected as quickly as possible.
0:35:43
I I think it limited competition among some of the ISPs that probably could do it, some many of who were, you know, starting negotiation process starting that process already from the Internet master plan and and were booted.
0:35:59
It it limited who you all who the city could work with.
0:36:03
And so that's why I'm asking what came first.
0:36:05
Was it these cable comp was it these Internet providers saying like, we've got dwindling numbers.
0:36:10
We've got the cable infrastructure.
0:36:12
We'd love to also provide Internet versus you all having a process that's, I think, more open, more public, more competitive, and provide an opportunity to these Internet service providers, many of whom some of these NYCHA tenants were already working with.