[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6575019,"mediaKeyId","3150552-90a50c8f32fb97b4827231c165462d0c","parentId",3150552,"title","CUNY urges council to remove small financial barriers, expand Reconnect and consider MetroCard relief","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",12671000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3150552-90a50c8f32fb97b4827231c165462d0c&start=12671&end=12671","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3150552-90a50c8f32fb97b4827231c165462d0c/thumbnail_12671000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6575019/New-York/CUNY-urges-council-to-remove-small-financial-barriers-expand-Reconnect-and-consider-MetroCard-relief","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6575019-3ef7db91bf18f54a4dfd8e44014d7644/orig.mp4?Expires=1771214927&Signature=kOTbV4FOZ0mIXT8RNRGh1LpQwfCmIJrBayIdA-pAjBhVwRsnyyDttTwG7EPbUgQYlSppCAWQhkIodPZmE1laW~66BZma0E-1P20rc194thG9XlIQxhavcDknmv0fTSxeRl1zEWKlWOZpr1kQITbnGOCmUKtZ~66JlcKja82~5ui1E28E4jJSc~rM6yT-1aBUBbdddCGjNgCKAO4y8CAGpdB4o~QjimN~K8P9BNbC9rShlDINm~1Yjs0BsWGwUAAHmzgqw-KAlVZ9t9O-dtdkb2hxO7SndxVawkoQgl-OqJJ-nGjsJPXAYZMhXqpqrWASvFWSjfdOqJ~SdGtX0Ph44Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of New York, NY","date","2025-04-29T18:06:25.477Z","article","City University of New York officials testified before the City Council's Committee on Higher Education that relatively modest fees and unpaid balances can block students from reenrolling and completing degrees, and they urged the council to back expanded Reconnect funding, broader application fee waivers and transit support.

Renee Sarmiento, CUNY's vice chancellor for enrollment management, told the committee the university's Reconnect program has returned tens of thousands of adults to college since 2022 and that many working-age New Yorkers have some college but no degree. \"When we reach out to adult learners, small financial hurdles we remove and offer personalized support, students return and they succeed,\" Sarmiento said. She and CUNY staff emphasized the ripple effects of degree completion on earnings, tax revenue and reduced reliance on public benefits.

Zalika Daniel, university director for strategy and operations for CUNY Reconnect, outlined three barrier types the committee asked the council to address: undergraduate and graduate application fees, small outstanding campus balances that block re-enrollment, and transit costs for commuters. Daniel provided figures for application fees (e.g., $65 for CUNY undergraduate first-year applications; transfer $70) and noted that fee waivers are an important equity tool; she said CUNY will supply further data to the committee on usage and demographics.

Committee chair Eric Dinowitz framed the discussion around the everyday costs students face: application fees, small holds of a few hundred dollars and the expense of commuting. City and research witnesses, including the Center for an Urban Future, have previously called out commuting cost as a top non-tuition reason students stop attending community college. Council members asked CUNY for budget estimates, potential savings and how the city and university could structure baseline funds or pilot MetroCard programs for students.

What happened next: CUNY pledged to provide additional data and to work with council staff on program design and cost estimates. The committee reserved time to review budget implications and potential pilot models.

Why it matters: Small, recurring administrative and transportation costs can drive otherwise-motivated students out of higher education. The council is considering whether modest targeted investments, policy changes and baseline funding for proven re-enrollment programs can increase degree completion and long-term economic mobility.

Evidence: Testimony from CUNY Reconnect leadership at the higher-education committee hearing; committee questions and policy context from the Center for an Urban Future and prior council briefings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","🔴 LIVE: \"Evaluating the City's plan to Connect All New Yorkers to the Internet\"","oneSentenceSummary","CUNY officials told the City Council's higher-education committee that small unpaid balances, application fees and transportation costs keep many adults from completing degrees; CUNY presented results from its Reconnect program and asked for baseline funding and partnership on fee and transit relief.","taxTitle","New York City Council, New York City, New York County, New York","taxId",77593,"location","New York","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6575023,"Residents, council members decry 5G kiosk/tower siting process after installations near homes and schools",5011,6729000,11740000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3150552-90a50c8f32fb97b4827231c165462d0c&start=6729&end=11740","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3150552-90a50c8f32fb97b4827231c165462d0c/thumbnail_6729000.jpg","/articles/6575023/New-York/Residents-council-members-decry-5G-kiosktower-siting-process-after-installations-near-homes-and-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6575023-79301fb777909089f101960ca0968448/orig.mp4?Expires=1771214927&Signature=PWILdRpKEhm~A7UGbr~Ek8AVdOS3Uiy7XtZuc7JDPqqOHgI4f-UURmC7oeg53fB~~CFAqyMYUiakilSpVNOHy8V-I0lvWfkcbVj5Zsxm17cUEU7JNCQ9rqnU55-m6zHOXUkpbm6TgRAcJFtQ8O-2tkC~WT0zmS4YvraF2ju-Vk6sx7jPhAkzm0qm7uNXZLRaayZTvRLTlgf4bAMIb8KLVAN7q8Jhatj~bP88fSlEGQ6Pmx2hJzy6oES9gSg3TATcS1GxRNWC02G9tt0yUlZR7WFrLDqSQ97DkVtFBp6Md0k~ZB7SDFagBiBPjNGDLDTMxn~s4HNGvZnseJmW2yvUBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents from Queens and Brooklyn told the City Council's technology committee they were not adequately informed before wireless small-cell and Link5G kiosk installations began in their neighborhoods, and several speakers said equipment was placed too close to homes and a school.

Councilmember Andrew Ressler and other members raised specific complaints about an installation on Juno Street outside PS 144 in Queens and an installation in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Parents and neighbors said they received only brief notices by email and that the franchisee or city did not contact property owners directly before work began. \"There was an email to my office and a letter to the borough president but no conversation with the property owners,\" said Councilmember Ressler during the hearing.

Several residents described visible equipment less than a dozen feet from bedroom windows and playgrounds. Resident Ari Honig said a yellow caution label on a unit stated \"keep back 7 feet; public exposure limits may be exceeded within this distance\" and noted the device sits roughly 12 feet from a bedroom window. Stanley Chan and Tracy Appleton said the tower at the corner of Norman Avenue is within feet of a kindergarten playground and asked the council to require better siting practices and fuller community outreach.

OTI and franchisee representatives said the franchise agreements require a community outreach process that includes notices to council members, community boards and borough presidents and that CityBridge (operator of Link5G) and providers undertake a formal 60-day comment period and state historic-preservation review where applicable. An OTI official said the agency and the franchisee routinely attend community board meetings and will relocate proposed sites in cases where applications fail siting or historical-review criteria.

Residents and at least one council member said those steps are too weak in practice. Councilmember Jennifer Gutierrez said she would pursue legislation to create specific, time-bound community-engagement requirements for siting telecom equipment if the city cannot provide stronger outreach and accountability. Community advocates argued for early, in-person outreach to impacted homeowners and tenants, and for clearer notice and appeal rights when equipment is proposed adjacent to residences or schools.

Why it matters: The dispute highlights a recurring policy tension between rapid wireless network deployment and community transparency. Council members told OTI and franchisees they expect clearer rules and more proactive outreach to reduce neighborhoods' frustration over installations placed close to homes, playgrounds and schools.

Evidence: Multiple resident testimonies during the technology committee hearing; OTI staff described the 60-day outreach process and franchise provisions; residents produced photographs and cited caution labels on equipment boxes.","Multiple residents testified at the technology committee hearing that 5G kiosk and small cell installations were placed without adequate outreach, including a tower sited next to an elementary school; council members said they will pursue stronger community-engagement requirements.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6575028,"OTI defends Big Apple Connect as Council pushes for a new city broadband plan",470,23000,493000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3150552-90a50c8f32fb97b4827231c165462d0c&start=23&end=493","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3150552-90a50c8f32fb97b4827231c165462d0c/thumbnail_23000.jpg","/articles/6575028/New-York/OTI-defends-Big-Apple-Connect-as-Council-pushes-for-a-new-city-broadband-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6575028-a415905377f7ca36f8a3baf27668c1d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771214927&Signature=gJFwOlKHDVmePUqkdAvDkLnPO2R1Hvi3OIvY75QxyEiz078meWfyed-orIgkZ~ERVpF3xoi6P2LCG1ZHIB~chX06TxelT8hXufiPifY-G9tPmmW4ZGsdqocPyW-Q2OtnhCA~FAR3MvUZnCuzM2INg8VLQsUWeZcFwOgF7NbUiWM4WA08Vykl~gsDIJi0h-QfrdqB4YhSubFGU11HIr~FbOsOzryh1QFtLYW5X0k~lOQw8aulvY95K6e87GGM8Uu7cnmGotoRsWYx~v5EARgWOyEI0urMRBwI9~1gCSLcOvlZ~lFRIvTaOV5bLhJHPcqMXZsaHonssQz3DWbW9GU9vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilmember Tierra Guti\u0000e9rrez convened the New York City Council's Committee on Technology to examine a package of broadband and digital-equity bills and to hear testimony from the Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI). Brett Sykoff, OTI's executive director for broadband and franchise administration, told the committee the Adams administration has prioritized rapid, low-cost connections for residents through Big Apple Connect and a new $2,400,000 digital equity roadmap rather than rebuilding the prior Internet master plan.

The committee heard that Big Apple Connect supplies free in-home broadband and basic cable to roughly 330,000 NYCHA residents and has about an 80% adoption rate, according to OTI testimony. Sykoff said the city's approach leverages existing cable infrastructure and master service agreements with providers to speed access and lower cost: \"We evaluated how we could provide the best service to the largest amount of people as quickly as possible, not 5 or 10 years down the road.\" He added the city has entered 13 information-services franchises in the last year and is exploring other delivery models through a request for information.

Council members and advocates pressed OTI on several gaps. Chair Gutierrez and others asked for a public, up-to-date map of broadband adoption and for data showing how many households remain unconnected or rely only on mobile. Sykoff and associate commissioner Samantha Wright said OTI uses a public asset map and state and census sources but does not currently publish a citywide adoption map; they offered to provide additional data to the committee and said recent household survey work and in-person outreach are under way.

Members also questioned procurement and contracting for Big Apple Connect. Committee members said they had repeatedly asked for the underlying procurement documents and master services agreements with the participating companies. OTI staff described the procurement as a \"mini-bid\" among existing telecom enterprise contractors (Altice, Charter/Spectrum, Verizon) and said the contracts were structured to obtain bulk pricing for services on city-owned property. Sykoff emphasized the city did not fund capital construction for cable infrastructure and that contracts were intended to be nonexclusive and opt-in for residents.

OTI officials answered questions about costs and sustainability. Witnesses said Big Apple Connect costs roughly $38,000,000 per year to serve NYCHA households and that continuing the program long term would require funding commitments; OTI said it was in active discussions with providers about continued service and rates. The agency also warned that some elements proposed in Chair Guti\u0000e9rrez's bill (intro 11-22) would have budget implications and possibly duplicate ongoing work in the digital equity roadmap.

Outside witnesses at the hearing urged the council to strengthen outreach, digital skills training, and support for smaller community-based ISPs. Andrew Rachey of Civic Hall and Michael Santarelli of New York Law School said availability alone is not sufficient: adoption, device access and skills training remain major barriers. TechNYC and other industry speakers voiced support for a city plan and multi-stakeholder advisory board. Community advocates including Smart Community Initiative leaders and NYC Mesh volunteers pressed for continued funding for community-led pilots and noncommercial providers.

The committee also discussed a set of related bills: intro 1-98 (reporting on discounted internet program utilization), intros 4-81, 4-83 and 4-86 (information dissemination and agency wifi access proposals), intro 8-78 (broadband/cable franchise transparency map), and intro 11-22 (requires a published five-year plan and advisory board to pursue universal affordable equitable in-home broadband). OTI said it supports many goals in the bills but requested refinements and coordination to avoid duplication with the digital equity roadmap.

What happened next: Committee members directed OTI to provide more detailed data requested in the hearing record, including copies of procurement materials where available, the list of franchise agreements and clarifications on public asset maps. No formal council votes were recorded during this hearing.

Why it matters: New York City is balancing short-term subsidized connections for the most underserved residents with the longer-term question of whether to invest in city-owned or shared broadband infrastructure. The choices affect how quickly people gain access, which companies are paid, and how the city can ensure affordability and local, community-based options.

Sources and evidence: Testimony and questions at the May hearing by Chair Tierra Guti\u0000e9rrez; Councilmember Bob Holden; Brett Sykoff, Samantha Wright and Chantal Senatus of OTI; testimony from Civic Hall, NYC Mesh, New York Law School, TechNYC and community advocates.

Ending note: Committee members said they will follow up with OTI staff for the requested data and documents and that the council will continue to pursue legislation to increase transparency and digital-equity outcomes.","At a City Council technology committee hearing, Office of Technology and Innovation officials defended the administration's Big Apple Connect program and raised concerns about resurrecting the prior Internet master plan, while council members and advocates pressed for more data, transparency, and a roadmap to connect more New Yorkers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

CUNY urges council to remove small financial barriers, expand Reconnect and consider MetroCard relief

Residents, council members decry 5G kiosk/tower siting process after installations near homes and schools

OTI defends Big Apple Connect as Council pushes for a new city broadband plan