Today, The New York City Mayor’s Office of the Chief Technology Office released the city’s Internet Master Plan, which sets out a comprehensive framework for connecting all residents of the five boroughs to affordable high speed broadband Internet access.  The following statement should be attributed to Gigi Sohn:

New York City’s Internet Master Plan is the most thoughtful and comprehensive blueprint by any major city to ensure that every resident and small business has affordable and open access to high-performance broadband. Mayor DeBlasio and his team of experts have developed a data-driven plan that treats broadband as vital infrastructure and considers every possible technological solution to connect city residents. Critically, the plan recommends smart solutions to break down non-price barriers to broadband adoption, like digital literacy training and online privacy protections.

The federal government has failed to meet the broadband needs of tens of millions of Americans. It is therefore incumbent upon states, cities and municipalities to step up where the federal government has stood down. The Internet Master Plan will be a vital resource for cities big and small so that they too can ensure that their residents have the connectivity needed to participate fully in our economy, our society and our democracy.

Gigi Sohn is a Distinguished Fellow at the Georgetown Institute for Technology Law and Policy and a Benton Senior Fellow and Public Advocate. She served as Counselor to Former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler from November 2013-December 2016, where she worked on several initiatives to expand broadband internet access to all Americans.