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Broadband access issues in New York City
1:27:12
·
130 sec
Anthony Marx discusses the critical issue of broadband access in New York City, highlighting the significant digital divide that still exists.
- An estimated 1-2 million New Yorkers lack access to reliable broadband at home
- The digital divide became especially problematic during the pandemic, affecting education, job searching, and access to information
- Major broadband providers are not addressing the issue adequately
- Libraries are experimenting with solutions to provide basic broadband access for free to all New Yorkers
- The market alone is not solving this social problem, necessitating library intervention
Anthony "Tony" Marx
1:27:12
Okay.
1:27:12
Across the city.
1:27:13
Thanks, Gail.
1:27:13
The that's why we're so proud to be partnering with HPD, both in two different projects with section eight housing, one one on one, and then the other is 2,000 people and the kind of project that Dennis was describing and that my colleagues have also been doing.
1:27:30
Look.
1:27:31
Let me just be clear.
1:27:32
It is outrageous that in New York City, at this point in history, that, you know, a million, possibly twice that number of our neighbors and fellow citizens don't have access to trustable broadband at home.
1:27:49
You know, we focused on this during the pandemic when it was additionally incredible that you couldn't do schoolwork, you couldn't do your job, you couldn't look for a job, you couldn't do research, you couldn't keep up with your friends and neighbors or with, you know, city officials in terms of the information that you needed.
1:28:08
I I will never forget talking to the CEO of one of the largest, if not the largest provider in the city who explained to me that, no, they didn't see a problem even though one or 2,000,000 New Yorkers are in the digital dark.
1:28:24
Their prices simply make digital access unavoidable.
1:28:30
That's why all three of us across the five boroughs have been experimenting towards what I hope will be a much better result, which is where every New Yorker has a basic broadband up you know, offering for free as sort of a basic requirement of life at this point.
1:28:54
The market is not providing that.
1:28:57
It won't provide that.
1:28:59
It's just another example of where the libraries have to step in to solve the social problems and needs that the markets by themselves can't and won't meet.
Gale A. Brewer
1:29:12
Yeah.
1:29:12
I mean, the NYCHA folks get a little bit through spectrum and the city's program, but you have to be at NYCHA resident, and you have to have spectrum.
1:29:21
Did you want Yeah.