Big Apple Connect Expanded to Provide Free Internet/TV to 300,000+ Residents at 202 NYCHA Developments
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Chief Technology Officer and New York City Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) Commissioner Matthew Fraser announced the expansion of Big Apple Connect — the nation’s largest municipal broadband program — by nearly 50 percent, providing free internet and basic cable television service to a total of 202 NYCHA developments, home to about 300,000 New Yorkers. OTI has now expanded Big Apple Connect to an additional 67 NYCHA developments since last year, reaching up to 40,000 new households ahead of schedule (last fall, Mayor Adams promised to install Big Apple Connect in more than 200 NYCHA developments by the end of 2023).
“Six months ago, I promised that we would bridge the digital divide for NYCHA residents, and today I’m proud to deliver on that commitment ahead of schedule,” said Mayor Adams. “With this expansion of Big Apple Connect, the nation’s largest municipal broadband program to more than 200 NYCHA developments, more than 300,000 New Yorkers now have access to internet and cable TV for free. Internet isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity, and today we’re proud to connect hundreds of thousands more New Yorkers to opportunities and to the future.”
“Big Apple Connect’s expansion marks a continued effort by this administration to close the digital divide and prioritize equity across our city,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “Your Zip Code or neighborhood should not define whether or not you have access to critically needed internet services. I applaud Chief Technology Officer Fraser’s commitment for delivering on a promise to reach hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers across over 200 NYCHA developments.”
“A better-connected New York City is a safer, more prosperous, and more equitable New York City,” said Chief Technology Officer and OTI Commissioner Fraser. “Big Apple Connect’s expansion ensures that thousands of students, families, jobseekers, and older adults living in public housing now have the broadband access needed to fully participate in our modern society. I am grateful to Mayor Adams for his action-oriented commitment to bridging the digital divide, and I thank Altice and Charter for their partnership on this landmark project.”
“As we learned during the pandemic, access to high-speed internet is a necessity rather than an amenity. Expanding Big Apple Connect will fulfill yet another goal of ‘Housing Our Neighbors,’ the City’s housing and homelessness blueprint,” said Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz. “Ending the digital divide is one more way of addressing racial disparities, expanding economic opportunity, and improving quality of life for tenants.”
“This expansion of Big Apple Connect represents another step towards fulfilling the promise of delivering an essential 21st-century service to public housing residents,” said NYCHA Interim CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “Families, young people, and seniors across NYCHA campuses citywide will benefit greatly from the improved internet accessibility enabled through this public-private partnership, which will help immensely in moving the city and the Authority towards ensuring digital equity for all.”
“The continued expansion of Big Apple Connect is helping to realize Mayor Eric Adams’ vision to advance digital equity for all New Yorkers in an age-inclusive city,” said NYC Department for the Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. “When older adults have access to the internet, they can sign up for the critical supports and benefits, explore workforce opportunities, and participate in online activities that keep them stay healthy and socially engaged. This is yet another important example of Mayor Adams’ deep commitment to enhancing the quality of life of the city’s older residents.”
Big Apple Connect’s expansion will reach 25 new developments in Manhattan, 20 in Brooklyn, 14 in the Bronx, 5 in Queens, and 3 in Staten Island. New Yorkers can view a full list of Big Apple Connect eligible NYCHA developments online.
“Internet is a necessity for families in Bronx River Houses to improve our quality of life,” said Norma Saunders, Resident Association President, Bronx River Houses. “At a time when a lot of residents are struggling with inflation, food insecurity, and child care expenses, Big Apple Connect means residents no longer have to wonder if they can afford internet and cable TV. This program is a step in the right direction for our families, kids, and young adults, and I thank Mayor Adams for bringing it to Bronx River Houses.”
Big Apple Connect provides residents of NYCHA developments a free bundle that consists of in-home, high-speed internet connection, including a modem and router; basic cable TV service, including a cable box and remote control; and common area Wi-Fi hotspots, selected in consultation with NYCHA.
The city has entered into three-year agreements with Altice (Optimum) and Charter (Spectrum), which will collectively cover the majority of developments owned and managed by NYCHA. OTI is billed directly for all residents enrolled in Big Apple Connect.
Existing customers of Optimum and Spectrum living in NYCHA developments where Big Apple Connect is active will be automatically enrolled in the program and will only be billed for additional services they choose to purchase directly. Residents will receive email notifications and mailers explaining why their bills were lowered, as well as information on Big Apple Connect. Residents without existing service will have the opportunity to sign up directly though Optimum or Spectrum or may attend on-site enrollment events conducted by the companies in partnership with OTI.
This effort builds on OTI’s suite of digital equity initiatives, aimed at making sure every New Yorker has the connectivity they need to participate in an increasingly digital society. Efforts include the Link5G program, which is aimed at delivering high-speed wireless service and free Wi-Fi to every corner of New York City; the city’s Gigabit Centers, which provide free connectivity and digital literacy training to community centers; and OTI’s Connected Communities program, a large-scale digital inclusion initiative that delivers digital literacy and employment resources in historically underserved areas for thousands of New Yorkers every year.
Photo credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office