Building the nation’s largest municipal broadband program

A Q&A with the New York City (NYC) Office of Technology & Innovation’s Brett Sikoff centered on increasing broadband accessibility via the city's Big Apple Connect program. The program has delivered free high-speed internet to 220 public housing developments across the city: that’s over 300,000 New Yorkers who now have access to the internet for free. Additionally, Big Apple Connect simplified the way people get connected: there’s no application, no approval or lengthy review required, and if you’re a resident in one of the more than 150,000 households eligible (in the NYCHA system), you automatically qualify. However, challenges include ensuring that residents outside of the public housing system have access and getting residents comfortable with an alternative provider. An overarching concern is the program's long-term funding; though funding is guaranteed for the initial three years with options for renewal for two more years, it's NYC's goal to ultimately have the Big Apple Connect program in place for as long as possible to ensure that people have the connectivity they need.