More than 300 New Yorkers will get free Internet access

The City of New York is expanding its subsidized housing free internet program to an estimated 300 New Yorkers.

The City's program expanded nearly 50% to provide free internet and basic cable TV to approximately 300 Big Apple residents living in subsidized housing (NYCHA's New York City Housing Authority complexes).

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Chief Technology Officer and New York City Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) Commissioner Matthew Fraser proudly announced that the Big Apple Connect program, launched in the fall, is now available at 202 NYCHA developments in the city's five boroughs. .

Since last year, the program has expanded to an additional 67 NYCHA homes and is ahead of the mayor's goal of reaching more than 200 NYCHA homes by the end of 2023.

“Six months ago, I promised we would close the digital divide for NYCHA residents, and today I am proud to deliver on that promise ahead of schedule,” Adams said. "The internet is not a luxury, it's a necessity, and today we're proud to connect hundreds of thousands more New Yorkers to opportunity and a future."

Big Apple Connect is part of the authorities' plan to achieve digital equality among New Yorkers.

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Big Apple Connect provides NYCHA residents with a free service package consisting of:

• home high-speed Internet connection, including modem and router;
• basic cable TV including cable box and remote control;
• Wi-Fi hotspots in public areas selected in consultation with NYCHA.

The City has entered into three-year agreements with Altice (Optimum) and Charter (Spectrum) providers that will collectively cover the majority of NYCHA-owned and operated homes.

As the Big Apple Connect program expands, 25 more homes will be covered in Manhattan, 20 in Brooklyn, 14 in the Bronx, 5 in Queens, and 3 in Staten Island.

The Big Apple Connect program is available to new and existing Spectrum or Charter customers who live in NYCHA areas.

Existing customers will be automatically enrolled in the program and will only be billed for additional services they purchase directly. Residents will receive emails and regular mail notifications explaining why their bills are down and more information about Big Apple Connect.

New customers in eligible NYCHA homes can register directly through Optimum or Spectrum or attend on-site registration events hosted by companies in partnership with OTI.

More information about the Big Apple Connect program and a list of NYCHA homes where it is available can be found at Online.