April 26, 2005 New York, NY -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has announced a comprehensive plan to improve New York City's telecommunications infrastructure while spurring the growth of telecommunications business in the city.
The plan, "Telecommunications and Economic Development in New York City: A Plan for Action," is a collaborative effort of New York City's Economic Development Corporation (EDC), its Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT), and its Department of Small Business Services (SBS).
The plan recommends 21 specific initiatives the city should undertake over the next two to five years, many in cooperation with the state of New York and the private sector. One of the plan's major recommendations is for the city to work with existing, private broadband service and telecommunications providers to pilot innovative ways to deploy broadband services to all areas of the city's five boroughs, while educating businesses about the potential uses of broadband technology.
"Although New York City residents and businesses have access to an array of high-speed telecommunications connections and services that no other city can match, there are specific parts of the city where access is limited, such as Hunts Point in the Bronx, and Sunset Park, Brooklyn," observes Mayor Bloomberg. "If New York City is to maintain its role as a world center of finance, communications, and culture, we have to extend access to broadband communications to all, as well as continuously improve the reliability of our telecommunications networks and take advantage of emerging technologies."
The report's other recommendations include:
* Dedicating a portion of Federal funds for rebuilding lower Manhattan to strengthening downtown Manhattan's fiber-optic infrastructure, and developing a wireless network to provide back-up capabilities.
* Using city-owned and other public property for infrastructure to support new wireless technologies.
* Encouraging business improvement districts and other local organizations to promote the use of wireless technologies, and improving local access to broadband services.
* Collaboration with universities to support development of new technologies and business ventures in telecommunications.
* Developing programs to educate small business owners about the basics of broadband communications, and how broadband services can improve their businesses.
The plan was drafted with the assistance of a 14-member Telecommunications Policy Advisory Group that includes representatives of the telecommunications industry, commercial property owners, industry analysts, academic experts, as well as business and community organizations. According to a press release, the diversity of the group contributed to understanding the trends reshaping the telecommunications sector, the effects these trends will have on New York City, and how best to understand them.
"Continuous improvement to New York telecommunications infrastructure is vital to the health of our economy," contends DoITT commissioner Gino Menchini "It's not a job that city government can do by itself. This plan recognizes that city and state agencies, the telecommunications sector, the real estate industry, major not-for-profit institutions, and neighborhood organizations all have a role to play."
"In the years ahead, the ability to take advantage of new telecommunications technologies will be an important factor in the success of small businesses and in the economic vitality of neighborhoods," adds SBS commissioner Robert Walsh. "The research we've done, and the people we've consulted in the course of putting this plan together, really helped us focus on how we could give small businesses and low-income neighborhoods a chance to benefit from the changes that will be taking place."
The members of the Telecommunications Policy Advisory Group are: Robert Atkinson, Columbia University Institute for Tele-Information; Bill Berkman, Liberty Associated Partners; Jane Builder, T-Mobile; Jonathan Bowles, Center for an Urban Future; Barbara Chang, NPowerNY; Thomas Dunne, Verizon; Victoria Galsterer, New York State Public Service Commission; John Gilbert, Rudin Management; Franklin Madison, Industrial Technology Assistance Corporation; Patricia Noonan, Partnership for New York City; Dan Reingold, telecommunications analyst; Julie Richardson, Providence Equity Partners; Howard Szarfarc, Time Warner Cable, and Kirk Watson, Flushing Community Access Network Corporation.
Appleseed, a New York City-based economic development consulting firm, also assisted the three agencies in preparing the plan.
For a copy of the plan, go to: www.nycedc.com/about_us/TelecomPlanMarch2005.pdf