NYC commits $157 million for broadband expansion and issues RFP

New York City has announced the next steps in executing its Internet Masterplan for universal broadband with the launch of a request for proposals (RFP), which it said represents “a first in the nation” approach to closing the digital divide.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has committed US$157 million in capital investment for the programme, including US$87 million redirected from the NYPD budget, and will make up to 100,000 city-owned assets available.

The RFP will reach 600,000 New Yorkers with a focus on areas prioritised by the Task Force on Racial Inclusion and Equity, including 200,000 public housing residents, and the city expects to engage multiple internet service providers using a range of technologies.

The NYC Internet Master Plan indicates that 18 percent of New Yorkers – 1.5 million people – have neither a home nor a mobile internet connection, limiting their ability to access jobs, training, education and healthcare resources from home – particularly during the pandemic.

“There is no one solution — we welcome any and all ideas and the opportunity to work with all those who share our goal of closing the digital divide,” said John Paul Farmer, Chief Technology Officer, City of New York.

Open for 5G

De Blasio also announced that New York will accelerate 5G deployment by doubling the number of city street poles available for mobile carriers to 7,500, mainly in underserved areas to drive equitable rollout. Poles can be reserved via a new online portal and around 1,500 poles will be released each quarter over the next 15 months, with the first phase starting this month.

“All New Yorkers deserve affordable Internet access, no matter their zip code,” said Mayor de Blasio. “With this historic effort to invest in broadband and 5G infrastructure, we are making tremendous strides toward closing the digital divide once and for all.”

As well as working with a range of vendors, New York’s programme also involves co-ordination between 18 different city agencies to align their assets.

Aaron Meyerson, who was appointed as New York’s Deputy Chief Technology Officer for Broadband in December, told Cities Today in a recent interview:  “This project requires lots of partnership, cooperation and collaboration across city agencies, between the public and private sector and it requires being open to different ways of partnering.”

He added: “I think we are going to learn a lot through the RFP process, and a lot about how the marketplace can look in the future.

“I would recommend anybody looking to do work like this to take a step back and think very openly and collaboratively about the types of models that could help solve these issues.”

To accelerate efforts to bridge the digital divide, a bill is in progress which would allow the city to administer franchises for internet services to a broader range of companies.

The RFP is being issued by the Mayor’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer, the Department of Small Business Services, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation. Proposals will be accepted until April 19, 2021.

Image: Andre Benz on Unsplash