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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Digital Equity Roadmap and related initiatives
0:08:27
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OTI released the New York City Digital Equity Roadmap, a $2.4 million investment designed to enhance free Internet access and provide skills and support for its use. The Roadmap focuses on meeting immediate needs while laying the foundation for future success.
- Initial investment includes upgrading technology in older adult centers, libraries, and the NYCHA digital van program
- OTI is forming a digital equity working group and hiring a chief digital equity officer
- Collaboration with the Connect All team to amplify availability of low-cost broadband options under the NY State Affordable Broadband Act
Brett Sikoff
0:08:27
Last month, we released the New York City Digital Equity Roadmap with a $2,400,000 investment designed to enhance free Internet access and the skills and support to use it.
0:08:39
The Roadmap, which is the product of extensive interagency collaboration, focuses on meeting the immediate needs of New Yorkers while also laying the foundation for future success.
0:08:50
We're making this initial investment to upgrade technology in older adult centers, libraries, and the NYCHA digital van program.
0:08:58
This month, we held our first convening of a digital equity working group that would build upon existing city government partnerships, and we will be hiring a chief digital equity officer to lead this important work.
0:09:12
Given the recent enactment of the New York State Affordable Broadband Act, which requires Internet service providers to offer a low cost broadband option to eligible households, we have also been in close coordination with the Connect All team and plan to collaborate on efforts to amplify the availability of these services.
0:09:29
As mentioned in the roadmap, we recently released a request for information to further explore how expanding the use of public infrastructure can improve digital equity outcomes.
0:09:39
We look forward to hearing from a wide range of stakeholders, including elected officials before the May 30 response deadline.
0:09:47
The RFI seeks to build on our current franchise portfolio comprised of nonexclusive agreements with dozens of companies that provide services such as cable television, public communication structures, mobile telecommunications, and information services.
0:10:02
It is important to note that although the cable television franchisees, Charter, Altice, and Verizon, also provide broadband services, the franchise agreements are limited to the provision of cable television, subject to applicable federal law.
0:10:18
The Adams administration is committed to keeping New Yorkers connected wherever they live, work, and travel across the five boroughs.