Spectrum Community (Maine)

BlocPower, Metro IAF and People's Choice Narrow the Digital Divide with Innovative Cooperative WiFi Installation Connecting 2,500 NYCHA Residents in the Bronx

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 30, 2021

"We are incredibly excited today to bring this much-needed, low-cost WiFi alternative to Melrose and Courtlandt Avenue residents so that they can enjoy all the benefits of broadband access – for education, work, job training and job seeking, connecting with friends and relatives, communicating with healthcare professionals, or even streaming music or video content – without having to choose between Internet access or paying bills and putting groceries on the table," said Donnel Baird, CEO of BlocPower. "What began as the by-product of our efforts to convert New York City's aging, urban buildings into smarter, cleaner more eco-friendly ones, installing community-owned urban WiFi networks has now become an important part of BlocPower's expanded mandate -- to help close the digital divide in America's underserved communities."

Key Points: 
  • The other Bronx NYCHA housing complexes to be upgraded include Forest, Morris I, and Morris II.
  • "I'm proud to have worked with BlocPower, PCC and Metro IAF to ensure a successful buildout of the Wi-Fi infrastructure at this public housing development.
  • Metro IAF is affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), the nation's first and largest network of multi-racial, multi-faith, broad-based citizens organizations.
  • People's Choice Communications is an employee-owned cooperative formed by members of IBEW Local #3 to bridge the digital divide and help our neighbors get connected to the Internet.