New York guarantees free internet for immigrants

On Staten Island, which belongs to New York, in the United States, a technological school has been opened to teach the immigrants who inhabit the place. The city authorities presented the new gigabit hub on Tuesday, April 25 this year.

An updated statistic says that out of five homes in New York, two are without internet and that accounts for nearly two million homes. This means that 28% of the homes in which immigrants live do not have internet service.

18% of residences in Staten Island do not have a Wi-Fi signal. 12% of students in public schools cannot call when they return home.

Other benefits

The gigabit hub provides free connectivity to local operators and employees with low solvency. With this option, immigrants can find jobs, enroll in improvement courses, take English lessons, and communicate with loved ones.

New York Mayor Eric Adams highlighted the role of foreign residents in the city’s progress. That is why they should be properly looked after, Mr. Adams added.

The mayor concluded by saying that the Internet is an essential service like water or electricity. The Gigabit Center is run by the Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI), LinkNYC, and the La Colmena Community Employment Center.

Since 2016, New York has a bunch of LinkNYC stores that offer fast, free Wi-Fi. More than 12 million residents and tourists benefit from this service every day.

The year before, gigabit hubs had been built in metropolitan boroughs in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Queens. The Brooklyn Gigabit Center opened last month of the current 2023.