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Q&A
Reasons for non-adoption of Big Apple Connect by some NYCHA residents
0:40:31
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106 sec
OTI officials discuss the reasons why approximately 20% of eligible NYCHA residents have not adopted Big Apple Connect. They explain the challenges in increasing adoption rates and provide insights into why some residents may not be participating in the program.
- Some residents prefer their existing internet provider and are reluctant to switch
- Older adults may choose not to have internet at home for personal reasons
- A portion of the non-participating residents may already have internet service through other providers
- OTI lacks precise data on internet connectivity for non-participants due to regulatory limitations
Brett Sikoff
0:40:31
but what is that I'm sorry.
0:40:33
It's a great question, one that we deliberate over internally to try to figure out how we can get to that get to as close to 100% as possible.
0:40:41
Largely the outreach efforts are the responsibility of the providers, They're doing door knocking, they're sending out flyers, they're We do work with them and NYCHA to set up on-site sign up events where we set up a tent and tables and computers and have the representatives of
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:40:58
Yeah, they've been to have family day events.
Brett Sikoff
0:40:59
I've been to dozens of them.
0:41:02
So it certainly helped anecdotally from from me speaking with the residents.
0:41:07
So I can tell you a lot of them just like their existing provider.
0:41:10
Some of them are older adults who, for whatever their personal reason, they don't want Internet at home, which is why we've seen a relatively, you know, trickle, slow trickle of new subscribers over the last few months.
0:41:24
That said, 80% is pretty impressive when compared to these types of programs that that we see or
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:41:30
What was it?
0:41:31
And I'm sorry if you said this already.
0:41:32
What was it before?
Brett Sikoff
0:41:33
It it was probably in the fifty sixty range.
0:41:35
Okay.
0:41:35
Or maybe even lower based on on some numbers.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:41:38
Sure.
0:41:38
And of that 20%, do you all have a sense of how many are actually connected versus like those who are not?
Brett Sikoff
0:41:46
We don't.
0:41:46
It's hard to get that data because again, we don't regulate internet service in the city, we can't.
0:41:52
So we don't have that level of specificity.
0:41:55
But just, again, to give you my personal anecdotes from speaking to folks, it's a large part of that 20% have service through another provider.
0:42:03
So I'm relatively happy to know that they are getting it.
0:42:07
We encourage them to take advantage of the city program, that's ultimately
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:42:10
they're not connected, it's just they have their I also want to recognize council member Paladino who's joined us virtually.