De Blasio, HUD Secretary Announce Free Internet For Families In Bronx Public Housing
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio and HUD Secretary Julian Castro announced that 5,000 families in Bronx public housing would receive free tablets and mobile internet service.
"The digital divide is very palpable, it's very real, it's very tangible in people's lives," the mayor said.
As 1010 WINS' Sonia Rincon reported, the mayor said internet access is out of reach for 1 in 4 households in the Bronx.
A HUD program is putting a dent in that with free or discounted access from T-Mobile for NYCHA families in the borough, and free tablets for families who qualify.
Nicole Suarez was the first to get one. Both she and her son are college students, and her daughter is in elementary school. None of them have been able to do homework at home.
"For Christmas I wanted to buy a computer for my kids I could share, but it was way too expensive," she said.
The mayor said his goal is to get affordable internet to all families in all boroughs by 2025.
