The NYCHA Journal

The NYCHA Journal has informed and inspired residents since 1970, covering the news, contributions, and uplifting stories of the NYCHA community while providing the latest information on Authority initiatives.

Screenshot of Queensbridge Connected website. Text reads Welcome to Queensbridge Connected Online
Technology Top Story 

Free Wi-Fi for Queensbridge Houses Residents Extended

LaToya

Internet service is more important than ever during this time of virtual school, remote work, and digital connections with family and friends.

Queensbridge Houses residents have access to free, high-speed Wi-Fi service through Lumen thanks to the Queensbridge Connected project. The project has been extended for another three years, through April 2023. Residents will continue to have free Wi-Fi in their apartments and development common areas, as well as an onsite customer care office, public computer centers, and digital literacy training programs.

“Having Queensbridge Connected in place enabled the community to stay connected [during the COVID-19 pandemic],” said April Andrews, Queensbridge resident and Project Engineer for Queensbridge Connect. “Children were able to go to school, people were able to continue working, so this saved a lot of jobs and also helped people look for work or continue with schooling. There’s plenty of kids that have to go to McDonald’s or Starbucks to connect to Wi-Fi so they can still continue with life, but we already had that in place.”

Woman stands in front of room with wi-fi wires on the wall
April Andrews checking the Wi-Fi connections at Queensbridge. Photo courtesy of City of New York Photographer Edwin J. Torres.
woman knocks at door
April Andrews knocks on a Queensbridge Houses resident’s door as part of Wi-Fi installation. Photo courtesy of City of New York Photographer Edwin J. Torres.

As Project Engineer, Ms. Andrews works for Lumen Technologies managing improvement projects, customer service, and repair for Queensbridge Connected, though she is known to some of her fellow residents as “Wi-Fi girl.” She has worked on the project since it began, helping to get it up and running by informing residents and overseeing the installation process. (Read an interview with Ms. Andrews from when the project first began here.)

Internet services are delivered by Lumen Technologies and managed by a partnership that includes the New York City Mayor’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer, the New York City Housing Authority, the New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications, the New York City Department for the Aging, Older Adults Technology Services, and the Queens Public Library. Queensbridge Connected is part of the NYC Connected initiative, whose mission is to create online access for all New Yorkers by 2025.