New York City Pushes for Maximum Connectivity

If Mayor Michael Bloomberg has his way, a series of new programs announced June 21, in New York City will help position the city for the future, with world-class broadband connectivity and a thriving technology sector. The plan includes five concrete strategies to tackle specific challenges standing in the way. These new initiatives carry ambitious goals that the city hopes to achieve within the next two years.

Among other things, city leaders envision hundreds of additional city buildings with high-speed connectivity, 25,000 new broadband-related permits and a digital broadband map featuring thousands of commercial buildings.

• Connect NYC aims to add high-speed Internet to industrial and commercial buildings.
• Wired NYC will publicize information about the broadband infrastructure of existing commercial buildings.
• A public website called the NYC Broadband Connect Map will unite several sources of information for a comprehensive picture of available connectivity in particular neighborhoods or buildings.
• City leaders will work with transportation officials to simplify processes for Internet service providers in a program called Broadband Express. A dedicated city staff person will serve as a liaison to businesses to streamline permitting and operations. New York City pledges to expedite processing of broadband-related permits to within an average of two business days. The city estimates that these improvements could permit as many as 25,000 broadband projects in the next two years.