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Q&A
OTI's stance on comprehensive broadband planning and infrastructure
1:18:27
·
98 sec
Council Member Gutiérrez questions OTI's opposition to developing a comprehensive broadband plan beyond Big Apple Connect. Brett Sikoff explains OTI's position against major new infrastructure investments.
- Gutiérrez asks about OTI's opposition to a plan that goes beyond Big Apple Connect
- Sikoff states that OTI doesn't see a need for major infrastructure deployment
- OTI believes existing infrastructure is sufficient and new deployments would be an unwise use of city money
- The administration's stance against major infrastructure investment has remained consistent since taking office
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:18:27
But we're not doing away with the existing infrastructure.
1:18:30
You know, the the idea of the the bill and we'll we'll get into those questions is to provide something that is going to have vision that is going to be able to evolve.
1:18:40
Obviously, the Internet Master Plan came out before the pandemic based on your feedback and commissioner's feedback.
1:18:45
A lot has changed.
1:18:46
I agree.
1:18:46
A lot of that may may or may not apply, but I'm just trying to gauge what the opposition to something, just a plan.
1:18:54
You don't even have to call it the Internet master plan.
1:18:57
But my what is the opposition to something that goes beyond the success of Big Apple Connect at this point?
Brett Sikoff
1:19:06
We just don't see that there's a need for a major infrastructure play, and and that seems to be at the core of 11/22.
1:19:13
It's like coming up with a plan to deploy new infrastructure to provide services.
1:19:19
While certainly we share the goal of expanding access to low cost, free if possible Internet, we see that there may be other ways to do it, either by leveraging the state program, the Affordable Broadband Act, which provides very low cost broadband service to eligible households, or other programs that we may materialize over the future.
1:19:42
But for now, Big Apple Connect is the city's big broadband investment.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:19:52
So no need for infrastructure is the the reason?
Brett Sikoff
1:19:57
That that was the determination a couple of years ago when the administration came into office and that that remains true today.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:20:04
Okay.