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Q&A
OTI's role in coordinating broadband access for RAD PACT developments
0:56:11
·
4 min
Council Member Gutiérrez inquires about OTI's involvement in discussions with RAD PACT management companies regarding broadband connectivity. Brett Sikoff clarifies OTI's role and the communication process with NYCHA.
- Sikoff explains that OTI is not directly involved in relationships with RAD PACT management companies.
- OTI regularly meets with NYCHA to get updates on the status of broadband implementation in RAD PACT developments.
- The conversation reveals that there's a preexisting contract between NYCHA and property managers to provide broadband service.
- Sikoff mentions that management companies made commitments to connectivity in their RFPs for RAD PACT developments.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:56:11
Okay.
0:56:12
I have questions for the road map.
0:56:14
You'll have your you'll have your time in the center.
0:56:16
Give me one second.
0:56:23
Can you on the conversations with RAD impact, and this is I'm nervous about NYCHA.
0:56:31
So I represent I think now five four NYCHA RAD PAC development.
0:56:36
Obviously, residents don't necessarily know the conversations that NYCHA is having with the city and the state, but are you able to share at this time which of those RadPack management companies OTI has met with or is speaking with?
0:56:54
And how often are are you all in conversation with them?
Brett Sikoff
0:56:57
Yeah.
0:56:57
To be clear, OTI is not directly involved in those relationships.
0:57:01
That's between NYCHA and the private property owners and then those ISPs.
0:57:05
We are regularly meeting with NYCHA to get updates on the status of it because frankly, you know, as as you mentioned, it's been
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:57:11
Are they giving you updates often?
Brett Sikoff
0:57:13
They are.
0:57:13
Yeah.
0:57:14
Yeah.
0:57:14
So we're we're in communication with NYCHA and
Andrew Rasiej
0:57:16
getting those
Brett Sikoff
0:57:16
those numbers.
0:57:17
So I don't have the information as to specific developments.
0:57:19
We can get that either what we have in our records or we can get it from NYCHA as well to to get the latest status for you, particularly for those developments in
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:57:27
your district.
0:57:27
Would you say that maybe at this point that you've heard from every RAD PAC development?
Brett Sikoff
0:57:34
I don't I wouldn't say that.
0:57:36
Because again, the conversations with NYCHA in particular, like NYCHA proper, not the individual development.
0:57:42
So we're not speaking with the individual developments or represent
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:57:44
Right.
0:57:45
I'm I'm just I'm saying it to distinguish it.
0:57:47
So the the the NYCHA developments that are in RAD PACT, would you say that you've been able to communicate with each one, I guess with NYCHA about each one of those developments regarding connection?
Brett Sikoff
0:57:57
The NYCHA has provided a schedule because they're being transitioned or converted to RAD PACT on schedule that's planned out in advance.
0:58:05
So the ones that are in the process of being converted or have recently been converted, those are the ones we're focusing in on, understanding that there's additional work that needs to happen on the ones to be converted.
0:58:15
So the ones that are in the pipeline down the road, we don't have much visibility into because we expect that there will be, you know, some time before those get resolved.
0:58:24
But so we're focusing on the ones that will hopefully be activating the broadband service soon.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:58:32
So, okay, so let me just understand the so you are in communication OTI, excuse me, is in communication with NYCHA.
0:58:37
NYCHA is responsible for reporting back to you or sharing with you how their negotiations are going with these ISPs.
0:58:45
You're working directly with
Brett Sikoff
0:58:46
the That's correct.
0:58:47
And I wouldn't characterize it that they're NYCHA's responsible necessarily.
0:58:50
It's just part of our, you know, interagency relationship that we have with all agencies, but in this case NYCHA, where we meet with them, we get an update, and, you know, we talk to them about the status.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:59:01
Okay.
0:59:02
So I okay.
0:59:03
I just guess I'm a little unclear on what the the intention or the goal was if that's the case to like to basically say early on in 2022 that Big Apple Connect had the capacity to expand into these developments?
0:59:18
Because it seems like what's happening what you're describing is not really like an active mobilization of from these these management companies.
0:59:26
And again, I know them personally.
0:59:28
They're in my district.
0:59:30
They've never once brought this up to me.
0:59:32
They've never once said that they are talking to NYCHA, and I can list those off to you if that'll help in your conversations with NYCHA.
0:59:38
But I'm just it just seems like there was a little there was not proper steps taken originally in '22 by commissioner Fraser when he said we are you know, we have this plan to expand into NYCHA RAD because what you're saying now, it does not feel like a strong like, I don't it doesn't feel like these management companies are being held accountable.
0:59:58
It doesn't feel like they're bought into this program in an urgent way is what I'm saying.
Brett Sikoff
1:00:02
Again, to be clear, we're not expanding into RAD PAC.
1:00:05
There's a preexisting contract and arrangement between NYCHA and those property managers to provide the broadband service.
1:00:11
So it's it's not an active initiative that OTI is involved in, but one that we're certainly given our our role with the city in in ensuring that broadband is ubiquitous and and affordable and available.
1:00:23
We are involved in making sure that those things are are and offering our help to make sure those things are rolled out.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:00:28
So each one of those management companies made commitments to connectivity in their RFP?
Brett Sikoff
1:00:37
That's my understanding.
1:00:38
Yes.
1:00:39
In addition to many other, you know, parts of the rehabbing the developments.