Free internet access for more than 2,000 New York families under a daring new initiative
The city of New York has announced a new initiative called Liberty Link, a three-year pilot program aimed at providing free or low-cost high-speed Wi-Fi to low-income New Yorkers living in Section 8 and other affordable housing buildings, primarily in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan. This program builds upon an earlier initiative called Big Apple Connect, which delivered free internet to over 330,000 residents in NYCHA (public housing) developments since 2022.
Key details of Liberty Link include:
- Expansion: Liberty Link covers 35 affordable housing buildings serving approximately 2,200 households. These buildings include properties owned by several non-profit housing providers working with low-income residents, many of whom participate in Section 8 rental assistance programs.
- Duration: The program is set as a three-year pilot, during which different technology models will be tested to determine the best approach for potential citywide scaling.
- Eligibility: The program targets low-income tenants living in 100% affordable housing, including Section 8 tenants and others in affordable housing buildings managed by non-profits such as Comunilife, JASA, and Lutheran Social Services. The focus is on those currently facing barriers to reliable internet access.
- Infrastructure and Partners: The New York Public Library (NYPL) and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) have partnered to install fiber internet and building-wide Wi-Fi infrastructure. The program is backed by $3.25 million in funding from HPD.
- Additional Support: Alongside Wi-Fi access, tenants can access HPD’s “Neighborhood Tech Help” program, providing one-on-one digital literacy training to help overcome connectivity barriers and improve online skills.
- Timeline: Network installation and service rollout were planned to begin by the end of 2025, with initial deployments focused on the Bronx and hopes to expand citywide if the pilot proves successful.
Liberty Link aims to close the digital divide for low-income New Yorkers living in affordable and Section 8 housing by delivering reliable, affordable internet access over three years with a strong emphasis on equitable inclusion and digital literacy. The high-quality Wi-Fi service is expected to launch by the end of the year, with network design and procurement taking place this summer. This initiative will help more working-class New Yorkers save on the cost of high-quality Wi-Fi and provide 2,200 families with access to high-quality Wi-Fi at no cost.
The public housing buildings included in Liberty Link consist of nonprofit-owned properties such as Comunilife, JASA, Lantern Community Services, Lutheran Social Services, PIBLY Residential Programs, Services for the Underserved, and Urban Pathways. Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Adolfo Carrion Jr. stated that reliable, high-speed internet access is a fundamental necessity in today's world, and Mayor Eric Adams reiterated that internet is no longer a luxury, but an essential service.
- The Liberty Link initiative, a three-year pilot program aimed at providing free or low-cost high-speed Wi-Fi, will extend to other general-news topics as it addresses the digital divide and promotes equitable lifestyle opportunities.
- Additionally, various technology models will be tested in this pilot program, bridging the gap between low-income New Yorkers and advanced technology, particularly in the realms of public housing and affordable housing buildings like Comunilife, JASA, and Lutheran Social Services.
