NYC Mayor Eric Adams Extends Big Apple Connect Broadband Program Until 2028
New York City's current Mayor, Eric Adams, has extended the Big Apple Connect program until 2028. This move locks the city into a broadband access approach that differs from his predecessor, Bill de Blasio's Internet Master Plan. The extension, announced by Adams as a lame duck mayor, has sparked concerns and demands from Councilmembers regarding the program's surveillance aspects.
The Big Apple Connect program provides free internet to 333,000 public housing residents. However, it has also been used by the NYPD for live video surveillance, a fact that was not disclosed by Adams in his announcement. Following reports by New York Focus, Councilmembers have demanded that the NYPD halt its public housing surveillance expansion. A joint oversight hearing on the program is set to be held by the City Council the day after Adams' announcement. The extension will keep the program running until June 2028, costing approximately $114 million over the next three years. It remains unclear who will bear the costs for the extension once the next mayor assumes office.
The extension of the Big Apple Connect program has raised questions about its surveillance aspects and future funding. As the City Council prepares for an oversight hearing, residents and officials await clarity on these issues.
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