September 19, 2022
“Big Apple Connect” provides free, home, high-speed internet and basic cable to over 100 NYCHA developments, to grow to over 200 by end-2023
New York – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Matthew Fraser today announced the citywide launch of “Big Apple Connect,” a landmark digital equity initiative that will provide approximately 300,000 new users with free high-speed Internet and basic cable TV Yorkers living in more than 200 NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments by the end of 2023. Mayor Adams and CTO Fraser announced the program — initially piloted at eight public housing developments in five boroughs and now expanding to more than 100 more developments — in Brownsville, Brooklyn NYCHA’s Langston Hughes Houses.
“21st century cities like New York deserve 21st century infrastructure, and today we continue our quest to bridge the digital divide with the launch of the landmark ‘Big Apple Connect’,” said mayor adams. “For too long, low-income, immigrant, and communities of color have been overlooked in their access to key digital tools to help them succeed. Broadband is no longer a luxury, but a necessity that all New Yorkers should use. This That’s why, by the end of next year, more than 200 NYCHA developments will have access to free high-speed internet and cable TV — enabling roughly 300,000 New Yorkers to access the essential tools for living productive lives. Like providing free, accessible Wi-Fi Something as simple as -Fi can change the lives of New Yorkers, and ‘Big Apple Connect’ will connect our city to the future.”
“Big Apple Connect is an innovative program that will improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers living in public housing by providing them with essential broadband access,” said First Deputy Mayor Lorraine Grillo. “I congratulate Chief Technology Officer Matt Fraser and all of our partners in government for achieving this milestone today to address the digital divide.”
“‘Big Apple Connect’ is a game-changer for New Yorkers living in public housing today, on par with the advent of utilities such as heating or hot water,” said Matthew Fraser, Chief Technology Officer and Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) Commissioner“This citywide broadband plan ensures that New Yorkers don’t have to put off their dreams — or fail to meet basic needs — because they lack the resources to pay for internet or live in pre-war buildings. Our city’s students most in need of high-speed internet at home , seniors, parents and job seekers will experience tangible benefits on day one that will enrich their lives for years to come. ‘Big Apple Connect’ is a testament to New York City’s national leadership in advancing digital equity under Mayor Adams. ”
“The launch of Big Apple Connect is the most significant investment to date in modernizing the Authority’s broadband infrastructure in the 21st century,” said Interim NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt“The high-quality internet services provided through this program will help ensure that young people have access to online educational guidance, working parents have access to important career opportunities, and seniors can continue to interact with their loved ones. We applaud the Mayor and the Office of Technology and Innovation for increasing Continued investment in digital equity for public housing residents and look forward to implementing this initiative across NYCHA campuses across the city.”
“By 2022, in the wealthiest city in the country, no one should be without the internet. It’s critical to our daily lives, success in school and work, and how we stay connected as a society, which That’s why the ‘Big Apple Connection’ is so exciting,” Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz“Bridging the digital divide is at the heart of building a fairer city, and I want to thank CTO Fraser for putting NYCHA residents at the heart of this work.”
Big Apple Connect will provide residents of the NYCHA development with a free bundle that includes a home high-speed Internet connection, including a modem and router; basic cable service, including a cable box and remote; and public area Wi-Fi hotspots, which are available in conjunction with Selected after NYCHA negotiation.
After soliciting proposals from existing NYC cable franchisees earlier this year, the city entered into three-year agreements with Altice (Optimum) and Charter (Spectrum) that will collectively cover NYCHA-owned and managed Part of the development project. The city is continuing negotiations with Verizon as a possible third franchisee. OTI will pay directly to all residents who participate in Big Apple Connect for three years.
NYCHA residents do not pay any fees for these services. Existing customers of Optimum and Spectrum residing in the NYCHA development at the “Big Apple Connect” event will be automatically enrolled in the program and only pay for additional services they choose to purchase directly. Residents will receive email notifications and mail explaining why their bill has been reduced, as well as a “Big Apple Connect” message. Residents without existing services will have the opportunity to register directly through Spectrum or Optimum, or can attend an on-site registration event hosted by the company in partnership with OTI.
According to cable service providers, an estimated 30 to 40 percent of NYCHA residents lack broadband. Once the rollout is complete, “Big Apple Connect” is expected to be the largest municipal program covering internet costs for public housing residents nationwide. NYCHA residents participating in “Big Apple Connect” will also be able to use the federal Affordable Connectivity Program benefits to save on their cell phone bills. The Affordable Connectivity plan offers eligible households up to $30 per month in discounts on internet or cellular data service, and is limited to one service discount per month.
The site Mayor Adams announced today – the Langston Hughes Houses – is one of eight selected pilot sites where best practices for community engagement and promotion are assessed. Since its pilot debut in Langston Hughes last month, Optimum’s more than 200 existing customers have been automatically converted and 120 new subscribers have been added. Nearly 350 Langston Hughes units – or about two-thirds of development homes – have signed up for Big Apple Connect.
In addition to the Langston Hughes Houses in Brooklyn, other pilot locations in the five boroughs include:
- Bronx: Mott Haven Residence
- Bronx: Paterson Residence
- Brooklyn: Brownsville Homes
- Manhattan: Polo Field Tower
- Queens: Queensbridge Homes
- Queens: Woodside Homes
- Staten Island: Stapleton House
Information on current and future eligible NYCHA sites will be available on OTI’s “Big Apple Connect” site.
“The show is great,” he said Ciprian Noel, Chairman, Langston Hughes Houses Tenants Association“As a single father of two in college, it helps me save money and provide basic internet service at home. I encourage more NYCHA residents to sign up for Big Apple Connect as it helps us connect with people … I thank Mayor Adams and CTO Fraser for taking the residents of Langston Hughes into consideration when implementing this plan.”
“Charter is pleased to work with Mayor Adams and his administration to deliver much-needed broadband through the ‘Big Apple Connection,'” said Camille Joseph Goldman, Vice President, Charter“Mayor Adams is committed to building this strong public-private partnership that will bring fast, reliable broadband, home WiFi and TV service to tens of thousands of homes on Housing Authority properties across the city — enabling residents to fully participate in today’s A world of digital work, study, play and staying connected.”
“Optimum is proud to be a founding partner of ‘Big Apple Connect,’ and we thank Mayor Eric Adams and Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser for their leadership and vision in supporting the initiative and sharing our collective commitment to digital equity,” said Matt Grover, Executive Vice President, Consumer and Business Services, Optimum“Offering free high-speed Optimum Internet and TV service to NYCHA residents represents a huge step forward in helping bridge the digital divide and ensuring New York City is connected throughout the city. Through “Big Apple Connect,” we’ve connected thousands of Residents, bringing new homes online for the first time and making service affordable for all residents, we look forward to Optimum expanding “Big Apple Connect” to more NYCHA developments.”
“From school to employment, telehealth and social services, New Yorkers rely on the Internet in valuable ways every day,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynolds“However, too many NYCHA residents face the enormous barriers of high-speed, reliable internet and lose out on those benefits. Today’s internet is an essential resource, and inequity in access translates into everything from healthcare to education, job opportunities , support services and more. I applaud Mayor Adams for starting the process of addressing this disparity for a growing number of NYCHA residents through free internet and cable TV.”
“The pandemic has expanded the need for digital connectivity in our cities,” he said New York City Councilman Julie Wing. “Wi-Fi has become essential in our daily lives to apply for government benefits, participate in distance learning, compete in digital marketplaces, and stay connected with our loved ones. Our NYCHA neighbors are facing high internet prices Highest risk of disconnection, now with guaranteed free connectivity to their cable TV, home internet and cell phone service with Big Apple Connect and ACP. This summer I signed up for ACP for all three NYCHAs in my area to ensure we of students are able to connect ahead of the new school year and are excited to have a Big Apple Connect Queens pilot at Queensbridge Houses and Woodside Houses to make it easier to access government support for Wi-Fi. Big Apple Connect brings us one step closer to bringing Wi-Fi Fi is seen as a utility rather than a luxury.”
###