1.1: NYC Connected
Connect high-needs individuals through federally funded NYC Connected initiatives Other Information:
Bridging the Digital Divide and Increasing -- Broadband Adoption -- BTOP AND NYC CONNECTED LEARNING INITIATIVES With its mission
to expand technology accessibility, the federally funded Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) provides resources
to establish or upgrade computer facilities across U.S. communities. The City's Department of Information Technology & Telecommunications
secured $42 million in BTOP funding, more than any other state or municipality, to fund three programs: NYC Connected Learning,
NYC Connected Communities and NYC Connected Foundations. To learn more about these programs, visit http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/grantees/NYCDeptITT.
Stakeholder(s):
- High-Needs Individuals
- NYC Connected Learning: The largest of the federally funded BTOP initiatives in New York City, NYC Connected Learning will serve 18,000 low-income
sixth graders and their immediate families, ultimately benefiting 40,000 New Yorkers who will receive free computers, discounted
broadband service and digital literacy training. As part of this program's comprehensive approach, students will participate
in a school curriculum that encourages the educational use of technology. To date, this program, funded by $22 million in
federal grants, has served 72 schools and more than 16,000 students over the course of nearly two academic years.
- NYC Connected Communities: In addition, the City has allocated $14 million of BTOP funding to NYC Connected Communities, a program that expands the scope
and capacity of public technology centers in high poverty areas through investments in libraries, public housing computer
labs, senior centers and community centers. These efforts provide digital literacy training, employment services, community
outreach and other critical resources and will serve 40,000 new users each week with 1,000 additional work stations. Already,
61 centers have opened or benefited from upgrades of new or improved connectivity, hardware, software, training programs or
outreach efforts.
- NYC Connected Foundations: Finally, the City will serve at-risk students at 43 public high schools with free computers, access to discounted broadband
service and comprehensive digital literacy training via "Connected Foundations," a credited course that aims to facilitate
long-term adoption of broadband and support a successful transition out of secondary school. Through this program, 36 locations
and 506 students have been served to date, over nearly one academic year.
- Community Technology Centers: As part of its franchise contract renewal with the City of New York announced last summer, Time Warner Cable will create a
total of 40 Community Technology Centers, in partnership with local non-profit organizations, to provide free broadband access
in low-income communities in its service footprint. These facilities are in addition to the approximately 100 public computing
centers being enhanced through NYC Connected Communities. The first four Community Technology Centers opened in 2011, with
another four to open by the end of 2012.
Indicator(s):
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