A recent report by the Center for an Urban Future underscores significant disparities in access to broadband internet in the Bronx, illuminating a digital divide that is leaving many residents behind.
The report highlights troubling statistics regarding broadband connectivity, internet access, and digital literacy in the borough, asserting that these gaps are barriers to career and educational opportunities for Bronxites.
Funded by The Bronx Community Foundation, the report reveals that roughly 22% of Bronx households lack broadband service, the highest percentage of any borough in New York City.
Areas like Fordham, Bedford Park, and Norwood face even more significant challenges, with over 30% of households without broadband access.
High-speed internet access is crucial for a myriad of online activities, including remote meetings and streaming services, which can drastically affect individuals’ ability to learn and work.
Furthermore, 31% of households in the Bronx lack access to a laptop, once again the highest in the city.
In South Bronx neighborhoods such as Melrose, Mott Haven, and Hunts Point, the statistic jumps to over 40% of households without a computer.
Desmon Lewis, co-founder of The Bronx Community Foundation, stressed the importance of broadband access, stating, “Reliable broadband, access to computers and tablets, digital literacy, and digital workforce training are essential for success in today’s New York City.
We must go much further to build sustainable, borough-wide infrastructure that ensures every resident can thrive in today’s digital economy.”
Elva Laboy, a 70-year-old resident of Hunts Point, shared her struggles with internet service costs.
After years with Optimum, she canceled her broadband four years ago due to high prices, explaining, “I was paying around $100 for Optimum,” which was unaffordable on her fixed income.
The report identifies affordability as one of the most significant barriers to internet access in a borough with a poverty rate of 28%, significantly higher than the citywide average.
Specifically, the study notes that 31% of households earning less than $35,000 annually lack broadband.
A 2024 report by the New York State Public Service Commission found that Bronx residents paid an average of $79.83 per month for broadband, which is $10 higher than Brooklyn, the second-highest borough.
The termination of the Affordable Connectivity Program last year may exacerbate these issues.
This federally funded initiative, established during the pandemic, subsidized internet service costs for eligible residents, offering a monthly discount of up to $30 and $100 towards laptop or desktop purchases.
Before discontinuation, 44% of Bronx households utilized this program.
Eli Dvorkin, Editorial and Policy Director at CUF, commented on the situation, stating, “It is nearly impossible to participate fully in our increasingly digital society without making major strides to close these digital equity gaps.
That’s not just a tech gap.
It’s an obstacle to attending school, finding a job, seeking medical services, and applying for city services.
You can’t fully engage in our economy with the digital divide we face in the Bronx today.”
The report suggests that the percentage of households without broadband has risen from 18% before the pandemic to 22%, indicating a negative impact of the ACP’s expiration on broadband adoption.
To address these challenges, the report proposes a Bronx Digital Equity Plan that aims to fill the gap with various initiatives.
This plan includes a public awareness campaign to inform residents about affordable $15-per-month broadband plans and the establishment of a Bronx Laptop Lending Library for the 184,000 households without computers.
Additionally, it calls for full funding of CUNY’s Computing Integrated Teacher Education (CITE) initiative, aimed at improving digital literacy among educators and expanded partnerships with libraries and community-based organizations for technology training and support.
The $15-per-month broadband plans come from the Affordable Broadband Act, which took effect this January, mandating internet providers to offer low-cost options to eligible New Yorkers.
Eligibility is based on enrollment in assistance programs like the National School Lunch Program, SNAP, Medicaid, SCRIE, DRIE, or having an affordability benefit from a utility.
The law, passed in 2021, faced years of opposition from broadband lobbyists before finally being enacted earlier this year.
However, AT&T has since withdrawn its Internet Air service in New York, which previously offered a range of download speeds for $55 per month.
The law currently requires broadband providers in the state to offer low-cost services to qualifying households, though smaller providers with fewer than 20,000 customers can seek exemptions.
Despite these initiatives, residents remain largely uninformed about the $15 plans available to them, particularly in a borough where most rely on larger internet service providers.
Dvorkin suggests that increased competition in various neighborhoods may also contribute to solving the issue but emphasizes the importance of informing Bronx residents about the newly available lower-cost plans.
It is evident that Bronx residents do not lack interest in internet access.
The borough recorded the second-highest volume of LinkNYC Wi-Fi traffic, with over 180,000 GB of data uploaded and downloaded, alongside more than 430,000 Wi-Fi sessions conducted in municipal libraries, as highlighted in the report.
Charles Jackson, a 59-year-old lifelong resident of Hunts Point, shared his experience with internet access challenges.
Having gone three years without service until signing up for broadband with Verizon in 2024, Jackson noted his struggle with affordability.
He explained, “The price — every other month, they kept going crazy,” indicating the inconsistent pricing that made broadband unaffordable.
Now, Jackson pays $120 a month for his broadband, having previously spent over $300 monthly.
“I was tight ’cause I’m one of them techy-type persons.
I wanted a laptop.
I wanted to get me a modem,” he remarked about three years without internet service.
Organizations like The Knowledge House, based in Mott Haven, are actively working to narrow the digital divide.
They provide training in technological skills and workforce development to about 150 to 200 Bronx residents each year, focusing on areas such as data science, cybersecurity, web development, and digital literacy.
Jerelyn Rodriguez, the organization’s founder, noted that while many young people have access to mobile devices, a laptop or desktop is often essential for participating in online classes or accessing numerous digital resources.
Rodriguez revealed that during their latest cohort, about a third of 1,000 applicants did not possess adequate devices for enrollment, prompting the organization to lend laptops to those in need.
Rodriguez expressed the crucial reason for establishing The Knowledge House in the South Bronx: addressing the digital divide and providing the resources that residents need to thrive.
image source from：thecity
