The city is releasing a request for proposals that invites the telecommunications industry to create new affordable broadband service options through a first-ever coordinated system of access of up to 100,000 city assets, prioritizing areas identified by the Task Force on Racial Inclusion and Equity.
Mayor Bill de Blasio also announced the city will accelerate the buildout of 5G by making an unprecedented 7,500 city street poles available for mobile carriers to build out their networks, mainly in underserved areas.
Combined, these initiatives will reach millions of New Yorkers across all five boroughs, expanding access to quality, high-speed, and reliable internet at home or on the go.
The NYC Internet Master Plan indicates that 18% of New Yorkers, or 1.5 million people, have neither a home nor a mobile internet connection. New Yorkers without internet connectivity are more negatively impacted during COVID-19 without the ability to access jobs, training, education, and mental health and health care resources from home.