Adrian J Cotterill, Editor-in-Chief
CityBridge partners, the New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and elected officials this week celebrated LinkNYC’s launch in the Bronx.
More than 375 Links have currently been installed and LinkNYC is now scaling up throughout the five boroughs.
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr said “LinkNYC is taking yet another giant step forward towards providing better communication access for city residents, and is an important part of our continued push for social and technological equality,” said . “I welcome the installation of nearly 20 kiosks that were installed in the South Bronx and along the Grand Concourse, and I look forward to the impact that the future installation of 700 kiosks will bring to the lives of our residents. I want to congratulate the leadership of the New York City Mayor’s Office, CityBridge, and DoITT, who have continued to provide more Wi-Fi kiosks throughout our borough, so that we can better communicate with one another. I would also like to thank Per Scholas for their dedication in helping nurture our youth so that they may learn and attain skills in the field of technology, helping them reach their maximum potential when they hit the job market.”
Anne Roest, Commissioner of the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications also said “We are inspired by the reception of LinkNYC in the Bronx. The vision of LinkNYC has always been high-speed Internet access for all New Yorkers, for all boroughs, so we are excited by the progress CityBridge has made to get us to this point. Borough President Diaz has been a great partner in this process, and I thank him for his gracious welcoming of LinkNYC as we continue to expand this project to more locations in the Bronx and throughout the city.”
In November 2014, following a competitive bid process, the de Blasio Administration announced the selection of CityBridge – a consortium of companies that includes Intersection, Qualcomm, and CIVIQ Smartscapes – to develop and operate the LinkNYC network, bringing the world’s fastest public Wi-Fi to millions of New Yorkers and visitors.
The five-borough network is funded entirely through advertising and will generate more than $500 million in revenue for the City.
Al Kelly, CEO of Intersection told us “Our team made getting to the Bronx a top priority. Bringing high-speed connectivity to streets across New York City benefits everyone in a city that’s always on-the-go, creating opportunities to learn, create, enjoy, and connect. I want to thank Mayor de Blasio and Borough President Diaz for their support and we look forward to expanding the LinkNYC network, and all of the opportunities it brings, in the Bronx and throughout the City.”
Brad Gleeson, Chief Commercial Officer, CIVIQ Smartscapes, which engineers and manufactures the Link structures told us “Launching in the Bronx is another significant milestone in the LinkNYC initiative and a tremendous step towards bringing high speed broadband and access to essential services for all New Yorkers. We are proud to be a part of this initiative and to bring the benefits of LinkNYC’s connected urban technology to the Bronx and, soon, all of New York.”
CityBridge has partnered with the South Bronx-based non-profit Per Scholas, which provides free tech training skills and professional development to people who are unemployed or in low-wage jobs. To date, Per Scholas has trained more than 5,000 people in underserved communities, helping them build lasting, life-changing careers in technology. Per Scholas graduates are members of LinkNYC street teams, teaching New Yorkers and visitors how to use Link’s features.
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