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Explanation of rationale for using existing cable infrastructure in Big Apple Connect
0:30:15
·
5 min
OTI officials explain the decision to use existing cable infrastructure for the Big Apple Connect program, citing the need for immediate connectivity and leveraging existing resources. They discuss the use of a master services agreement and the lack of exclusive rights in the contracts.
- The decision was driven by the presence of existing infrastructure and the goal of rapid deployment
- OTI used the city's purchasing power to secure lower prices for services
- Officials emphasize that there is no exclusivity in the arrangements, and residents can opt for other providers or no service at all
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:30:15
Okay.
0:30:23
Why did OTI do this through a master services agreement?
Chantal Senatus
0:30:30
Because I mean, you want to answer this one Brett?
0:30:33
Well
Brett Sikoff
0:30:34
essentially we were purchasing bulk services for city owned property which falls under, you know, the exactly why the the the telecom enterprise agreement was designed so we can get the best pricing use the city's purchasing power to to provide, you know, services to the public at the lowest price.
0:30:52
Okay.
0:30:52
Lowest cost.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:30:55
Did OTI have to obtain any additional EOs or approvals from the mayor's office to execute this contract?
Brett Sikoff
0:31:02
Not to my understanding.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:31:09
Was there, and since since I don't have the contract in front of me, was there a clause in the agreement with Altice and Charter that offers any exclusive rights to the building infrastructure or marketing?
Brett Sikoff
0:31:22
Not to my understanding.
0:31:23
It was intended to provide core services of the basic cable and high speed Internet with the expectation that the infrastructure was already in place and that the other providers can provide services.
0:31:36
There's no exclusive arrangement specified in the contract or in practice.
0:31:41
That was not the intent and that's not how it was rolled out.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:31:45
Okay.
0:31:45
Are there developments where there are other providers outside of that designated one for the Big Apple Connect program?
Brett Sikoff
0:31:53
Yeah.
0:31:53
So to be clear, none of the developments of the two twenty that are part of Big Apple Connect, it's an opt in service.
0:31:59
A resident can enroll in Big Apple Connect, they can choose not to, they can take another provider, they can have no service at all.
0:32:07
So there's no limit, there's no exclusivity related to the program.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:32:11
They don't have to go, they don't even have to take advantage of the program.
0:32:14
Totally.
0:32:15
Do you have the percentage of how many Big Apple Connects Big Apple Connect subscribers were not set up with Internet previously?
Brett Sikoff
0:32:25
So based on estimates we were looking at, I mentioned earlier, 30 to 40% of NYCHA residents did not have any home broadband service.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:32:33
30 to 40.
Brett Sikoff
0:32:34
30 to 40%.
0:32:35
Yep.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:32:35
And then do you all know how many of them were not did not have, I guess, cable?
Brett Sikoff
0:32:46
I don't know.
0:32:47
I don't know.
0:32:49
Largely just from anecdotally, people generally get their cable and Internet as like a bundle of package from the provider.
0:32:56
So we don't know what the breakout is.
0:32:58
But yeah, I I don't even know if we have data on that in terms of specific cable connections.
0:33:06
We obviously do as part of our administration of the cable franchise.
0:33:09
We know overall how many cable subscribers there are around the city, but not necessarily pinpointed by geographically.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:33:16
I see.
0:33:17
And so so you're not so you didn't you don't have it or you didn't have the data of how many people had of how many residents or units, excuse me, it's by unit, had cable.
0:33:28
Just curious if you can share, I guess, why?
0:33:34
What is what is part of the what is the agreement that makes it so that cable had to be an anchor for this program for for residents?
Brett Sikoff
0:33:44
I think it was driven largely by the fact that the cable providers had the infrastructure in place for decades.
0:33:50
They had their either fiber or coax or a combination of the two already in place to deliver cable services.
0:33:57
And obviously, Internet has come along since then.
0:34:00
So to be able to leverage the cable infrastructure plant that's already in place to every NYCHA property and to be able to tack on, obviously, the Internet was major draw to utilizing the cable
Odette Wilkens
0:34:11
space.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:34:11
They had the infrastructure already.
0:34:13
Mhmm.
0:34:13
So I'm just curious then, I guess, what was the inception of the RFP?
0:34:19
Was it to provide always to provide Internet and cable?
0:34:24
Or was it the infrastructure is there, they're already providing cable, so let's make it so that they the only providers that could respond to this RFP are the ones that are already in there providing cable?
Brett Sikoff
0:34:36
Well, ultimately, the goal, as we mentioned, not to rehash it, but was to get people connected immediately.
0:34:41
When this administration came on, we did not, setting aside the IMP plans, we did not want to wait.
0:34:48
We did not want our residents to wait any longer to be able to get connectivity.
0:34:52
So we did see, you know, looked around and said, where is the infrastructure in place, and who's providing that infrastructure?
0:34:57
Who's built it?
0:34:58
Cable companies, all the NYCHA residents have them, NYCHA developments have them, and we were able to leverage that infrastructure in combination with the fact that the three cable providers, LTE, Spectrum and Verizon, are all signed up on the master services agreement.
0:35:14
So we're able to leverage the master services agreement, existing infrastructure, and that's how we're able to get people connected.
0:35:20
All three
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:35:21
are, all two, excuse me, or all three that applied are under the mesh?
Brett Sikoff
0:35:25
Yes, mesh services, yes.