{"id":1531,"date":"2022-02-04T17:07:13","date_gmt":"2022-02-04T17:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/data\/?page_id=1531"},"modified":"2022-09-19T14:37:12","modified_gmt":"2022-09-19T14:37:12","slug":"internet-access","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/data\/internet-access\/","title":{"rendered":"Access to Internet in NYC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Broadband and Equal Access to the Internet in New York City<\/h2>\n
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No Internet Access<\/h2>\n

8.1% of Households, 2021<\/p>\n

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Cellular Data Plan Only<\/h2>\n

12.8% of Households<\/p>\n

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No Broadband Subscription
\n(cable, fiber optic, or DSL service)<\/small><\/h2>\n

24.5% of Households<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Download the Data <\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Data Team Home <\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\nToday, people need internet access to engage in almost every facet of their lives, including employment, housing, health, and government services. The coronavirus pandemic has laid bare many of the inequalities, including the differences in access to broadband Internet. To reduce the coronavirus spread, many people are now working from home, relying more than ever on a connection to the Internet, preferably high speed (aka broadband). Despite the general need for broadband, many New Yorkers still lack access to it.<\/p>\n

Last session, the then-New York City Chief Technology Officer issued the New York City Internet Master Plan<\/a>. As a part of the plan, in May 2020, a Request for Expressions of Interest relating to the Universal Solicitation for Broadband in NYCHA was issued. The Committee on Technology held at least two hearings on the City Internet Master Plan and the digital divide, however, many New Yorkers may still have no access to high-speed Internet. This hearing would enable the Council, the Administration, and advocates to explore ways in which New York City can reduce the digital divide and ensure that all New Yorkers have access to high-speed Internet.<\/p>\n

The introduced bills for the hearing aim to provide public access to wireless networks, provide mobile hotspot devices to public school students, raise awareness of affordable internet programs, and increase transparency around cable franchise agreements.<\/p>\n

The data team investigated unequal access to high-speed internet in New York City among several population groups like students and seniors and across neighborhoods. Their analysis of the data revealed the following:<\/p>\n