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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Andrew Rasiej, Founder of Civic Hall
2:10:06
·
155 sec
Andrew Rasiej, founder of Civic Hall, testified about the importance of broadband access and digital equity in New York City. He emphasized the need to focus on adoption, digital skills, and device access rather than just infrastructure availability. Rasiej highlighted progress made through programs like Big Apple Connect and affordable internet options, while also suggesting areas for improvement.
- Rasiej has extensive experience in digital equity, including founding Civic Hall and mouse.org
- He praised Big Apple Connect for providing free internet to NYCHA residents
- Rasiej emphasized the importance of digital skills training and device access in addition to infrastructure investment
Andrew Rasiej
2:10:06
Councilwoman, it's a pleasure to be here.
2:10:07
Thank you for inviting me.
2:10:08
Very important very important hearing and on a very, very important topic.
2:10:14
My name is Andrew Rachey, and I'm the founder of Civic Hall.
2:10:19
The city's and the country's largest digital skills training center focus on providing underestimated populations with the skills they need to compete for jobs in New York's growing technology ecosystem.
2:10:30
I'm also the founder of mouse.org, which began wiring New York City public schools to the Internet all the way back in 1997 at a time when even if a single teacher in a school had an AOL count, vice president Al Gore would have considered that school wired to the Internet.
2:10:48
Suffice to say, bridging the digital divide has been my life's work.
2:10:52
A quality education, safe and secure housing, and access to essential infrastructure are pillars that lift up marginalized communities.
2:10:58
And today, broadband access must be recognized as an as essential infrastructure.
2:11:04
Thanks to years of both public and private investment, virtually every New Yorker now lives in an area where reliable broadband service is available.
2:11:12
But availability alone isn't enough.
2:11:14
The real challenges we face are adoption, ensuring seniors and low income families have the digital skills they need, and making sure every household has a computer or tablet to actually access the Internet.
2:11:26
Irrespective of some of the criticisms today, we have made some important strides with programs like Big Apple Connect, which are providing free Internet to more than 300,000 New York City Housing Authority residents, and that number continues to grow.
2:11:41
Big Apple Connect shows what's possible when the city works hand in hand with existing providers to deliver fast, affordable service, leveraging infrastructure that's already in place.
2:11:51
Another important tool is the state's requirement that broadband providers offer a $15 a month service to low income families who qualify through programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and National School Lunch Program.
2:12:01
Many New Yorkers are eligible today.
2:12:02
The challenge is getting the word out and helping them enroll.
2:12:06
As we as we move forward, we must be careful about investing in duplicative infrastructure in ways that make sense, but also thoughtful about the way some of those resources could be directed towards bridging other parts of the digital divide, including funding digital skills training and providing devices so that all New Yorkers can fully participate in the opportunities of broadband access.
2:12:27
The good news is broadband is more affordable and more accessible than ever before.
2:12:31
Now is the time to finish what we've begun with broadband and moving on to ensure that every New Yorker can use it effectively and meaningfully to participate in the digital economy of our city.
2:12:39
Thank you for your time.