"Accessing the internet is not a luxury in the 21st century, and high speed internet ought to be thought of as an essential utility like water or gas. It is unconscionable that seniors and school-age kids stand outside of private businesses across our city simply to access the internet, and we must do better. While it seems likely that federal funding for broadband expansion will be unreliable for at least the next four years,"
" there is plenty in our control that can help alleviate this problem. First and foremost, we should protect our libraries and make sure they are fully funded to operate for as many hours as possible so that seniors have them as a resource to get online. Beyond that we should work toward creating programs that can subsidize internet costs for vulnerable populations the same way that we subsidize heat and other critical utilities."
Access to high-speed internet is essential for telehealth, social connections, and accessing services, yet about 27% of New York City households lacked a broadband subscription as of December 2024. One approach frames high-speed internet as an essential utility like water or gas, calls for protecting and fully funding libraries to extend hours for seniors, and proposes subsidy programs for vulnerable populations similar to heat assistance, emphasizing local actions if federal funding is unreliable. Another approach supports targeted discounts by partnering with providers to deliver affordable plans through senior centers and local housing, and prioritizes directing taxpayer dollars to effective, non-wasteful connectivity solutions.
Read at Brooklyn Paper
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