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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Ash Wolfson, Volunteer Installer/Outreach Leader at NYC MESH
2:12:48
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128 sec
Ash Wolfson, a volunteer installer and outreach leader with NYC MESH, provided testimony on the importance of affordable and accessible internet for all New Yorkers. He highlighted NYC MESH's work in connecting thousands of residents who previously lacked internet access, emphasizing the critical role of internet in accessing essential services and opportunities.
- NYC MESH has been operating for ten years, providing affordable internet to thousands of New Yorkers who had no other options.
- Wolfson stressed the need for greater city investment in internet access and digital literacy programs, especially for non-English speaking populations.
- He expressed NYC MESH's eagerness to collaborate with city government to expand their reach and make internet more accessible to all families.
Ash Wolfson
2:12:48
Thank you.
2:12:51
Council member, thank you, for holding this.
2:12:54
My name is Ash Wolfson.
2:12:55
I'm a volunteer installer and outreach leader with NYC MESH.
2:12:59
Since our founding ten years ago, we have served as an affordable and accessible option for thousands of New Yorkers who don't have any other option.
2:13:08
I can testify personally that I've installed Internet for people who have never had home Internet before.
2:13:13
And for those families, Internet access means access to jobs, training, public resources, education, and community.
2:13:22
Internet is a necessity and we wouldn't tolerate these disparities in other essential services.
2:13:31
Yet the city has not made sufficient investments to reach many families across New York City.
2:13:37
It is clear that the major Internet service providers have no intention of correcting this despite having the resource to do so.
2:13:46
We are a small team working on a shoestring budget and despite that we've been able to connect thousands of New Yorkers.
2:13:53
Every dollar we receive goes right back into, the community, and we provide a number of public benefits including providing, hotspots in public spaces and rooftops across New York City.
2:14:06
Our volunteers are extremely dedicated, showing up to spend their evenings and weekends installing Internet for people.
2:14:14
We also work with many communities educating them on on the use of their technology.
2:14:24
I can testify that we we are overwhelmed by the need for digital literacy programs, especially among non English speaking populations.
2:14:35
And it's really a struggle to empower people to use the technology available to them when they don't even know how to work with how to work with it.
2:14:43
We are eager to work with city government to improve our ability to reach these families and make affordable and accessible Internet available to all families.