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North                       The Indian Eye

                          AMERICANNewsline






         16                                                                                                               AUGUST 01, 2025
               Mayor Adams, HPD, NYPL announce




           Free and Low-Cost Wi-Fi to Thousands



                                   of in affordable Housing





          “Liberty Link” Will Serve Nearly 2,200 Households in Section 8 and other Affordable

                                Housing Buildings Across Bronx and Upper Manhattan


        OUR BUREAU                                                                                            people where they are and removing
                                                                                                              a barrier that’s held too many New
        NEW YORK, NY
                                                                                                              Yorkers back for far too long.”
               ew York City Mayor Eric                                                                           “Part of the Library’s mission is
              Adams and New York City                                                                         to promote free access to informa-
        NDepartment of Housing Pres-                                                                          tion, and in today’s digital world that
        ervation  and  Development  (HPD)                                                                     means internet access,” said Anthony
        Acting Commissioner Ahmed Tigani                                                                      W. Marx, president, The New York
        have announced “Liberty Link,” a                                                                      Public Library. “From  applying  to
        groundbreaking program that will                                                                      jobs to staying informed, the internet
        deliver high-quality internet to thou-                                                                is increasingly necessary to fully par-
        sands  of  low-income  New  Yorkers                                                                   ticipate in society. This is why we are
        in 100-percent affordable housing                                                                     so committed to closing the digital di-
        buildings at little to no cost to tenants.                                                            vide and proud to help spearhead this
        Through the pilot program — which                                                                     innovative program designed to de-
        is  being led  by  HPD  and  the  New                                                                 liver free at-home Wi-Fi to lower-in-
        York Public Library (NYPL) system —   Ridge Street Apartments will deliver 190 truly-affordable homes for seniors on the Lower East   come New Yorkers.”
        NYPL will connect the buildings to fi-                 Side. Credit: Handel Architects LLP               The  Liberty  Link  pilot  program
        ber internet and deploy building-wide                                                                 will run  for  three  years  and  test a
        Wi-Fi infrastructure. With $3.25 mil-                                                                 range of models and technologies to
        lion in funding from HPD, the pilot  the Adams administration will double   more affordable city for working-class   identify the most effective and scal-
        internet network will serve nearly  down on those efforts and deliver an   families.”                 able approaches for a citywide expan-
        2,200 households across 35 affordable   essential, free service to even more   “Access to reliable, high-speed in-  sion. As part of the Adams administra-
        housing buildings in the Bronx and   New Yorkers.                   ternet is a fundamental necessity in   tion’s efforts to increase investments
        Upper Manhattan.                     “Whether it’s finding a job, filling  today’s world. With ‘Liberty Link,’ we   in minority- and women-owned busi-
            Additionally, as part of Liber- a prescription, or applying for child   are extending the reach of our digital   ness enterprises (M/WBEs), approxi-
        ty Link, tenants will have access to   care, the internet is no longer a luxury;  equity work to ensure that more New  mately half of the pilot’s funding will
        HPD’s “Neighborhood Tech Help”  it’s an essential service. But when we  Yorkers, regardless of income or zip   be awarded to M/WBEs to install,
        program, a one-on-one digital literacy  came into office, too many New York-  code, can fully participate in our econ- maintain, and  operate the network
        program launched earlier this year to   ers were disconnected from the inter- omy and society,” said Deputy Mayor  infrastructure.  Network  design and
        help New Yorkers connect to the in- net, which is why we launched our ‘Big  for Housing, Economic Development,  procurement will begin this summer,
        ternet, use technology, and navigate  Apple Connect’ program to bring free  and Workforce Adolfo Carrión, Jr.  with service rollout expected to begin
        online resources. Today’s announce- broadband to hundreds of thousands  “This program is about ensuring equal   by the end of 2025.
        ment  reaffirms  Mayor  Adams’  com- of NYCHA residents. Today, we are   opportunity and creating a more con-  Liberty Link will operate in 35
        mitment to closing the digital divide   doubling down on those efforts and   nected and inclusive city.”   buildings with 100-percent affordable
        in New York City and making sure   expanding our free Wi-Fi services to   “At HPD, we talk a lot about hous- housing across the Bronx and Upper
        that every New Yorker has afford- thousands of new Section 8 and af- ing as a foundation. But today is about  Manhattan.  These  buildings  include
        able access to the internet. In 2022,  fordable housing tenants with ‘Liberty  what we build on top of that founda-  properties owned by non-profit hous-
        the Adams administration launched  Link,’” said Mayor Adams. “‘Liberty  tion: access to jobs, education, health   ing  providers  such as Comunilife,
        “Big Apple Connect” to bring access  Link’ will build on the success of ‘Big   care — all of which increasingly de- JASA, Lantern Community Services,
        to free internet and cable to 330,000  Apple Connect’ and give over 2,000   pend on access to the internet,” said  Lutheran Social Services, PIBLY Res-
        New Yorkers across 220 NYCHA fa- more  households  the  free  internet  HPD  Acting  Commissioner  Tigani.  idential Programs, Services for the
        cilities and save working-class families   they need. We will help more work- “For the families we serve, the internet  Underserved, and Urban Pathways.
        an average of roughly $1,700 per year.  ing-class New Yorkers save on the cost  isn’t a luxury — it’s how you find a job,  Many residents of these buildings
        With Liberty Link — which was first  of this vital service, put money back  get your kids through school, stay con-  participate in the Section 8 rental as-
        previewed in Mayor Adams’ State of  into their pockets, and deliver, once   nected to health care and community.  sistance program and currently face
        the City address earlier this year —  again, on our commitment to create a  With  ‘Liberty  Link,’  we’re  meeting   barriers to internet access.


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