Mayor Eric Adams, alongside the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the New York Public Library (NYPL), announced the “Liberty Link” program on July 23, 2025, to provide free or low-cost high-speed internet to nearly 2,200 low-income households in 35 affordable housing buildings in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan. Building on the success of the “Big Apple Connect” initiative, which brought free Wi-Fi to 330,000 NYCHA residents, this $3.25 million pilot program will install fiber internet and building-wide Wi-Fi, while offering digital literacy support through HPD’s “Neighborhood Tech Help.” The initiative, partly funded through minority- and women-owned businesses, aims to bridge the city’s digital divide and enhance access to education, jobs, and essential services.
Mayor Adams, HPD, NYPL Announce new Program to Deliver Free and Low-Cost Wi-Fi to Thousands of Low-Income New Yorkers in Affordable Housing
“Liberty Link” Will Serve Nearly 2,200 Households in Section 8 and
Other Affordable Housing Buildings Across Bronx and Upper Manhattan. Pilot Program Continues Adams Administration’s Efforts to Close City’s Digital Divide. New Liberty Link Program Builds on Success of Mayor Adams’ “Big Apple Connect,” Which Has Already Delivered Free Access to Wi-Fi to 330,000 NYCHA Residents.
– New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Acting Commissioner Ahmed Tigani today announced “Liberty Link,” a groundbreaking program that will deliver high-quality internet to thousands of low-income New Yorkers in 100-percent affordable housing buildings at little to no cost to tenants. Through the pilot program — which is being led by HPD and the New York Public Library (NYPL) system — NYPL will connect the buildings to fiber internet and deploy building-wide Wi-Fi infrastructure. With $3.25 million in funding from HPD, the pilot internet network will serve nearly 2,200 households across 35 affordable housing buildings in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan. Additionally, as part of Liberty Link, tenants will have access to HPD’s “Neighborhood Tech Help” program, a one-on-one digital literacy program launched earlier this year to help New Yorkers connect to the internet, use technology, and navigate online resources. Today’s announcement reaffirms Mayor Adams’ commitment to closing the digital divide in New York City and making sure that every New Yorker has affordable access to the internet. In 2022, the Adams administration launched “Big Apple Connect” to bring access to free internet and cable to 330,000 New Yorkers across 220 NYCHA facilities and save working-class families an average of roughly $1,700 per year. With Liberty Link — which was first previewed in Mayor Adams’ State of the City address earlier this year — the Adams administration will double down on those efforts and deliver an essential, free service to even more New Yorkers.
“Whether it’s finding a job, filling a prescription, or applying for child care, the internet is no longer a luxury; it’s an essential service. But when we came into office, too many New Yorkers were disconnected from the internet, which is why we launched our ‘Big Apple Connect’ program to bring free broadband to hundreds of thousands of NYCHA residents. Today, we are doubling down on those efforts and expanding our free Wi-Fi services to thousands of new Section 8 and affordable housing tenants with ‘Liberty Link,’” said Mayor Adams. “‘Liberty Link’ will build on the success of ‘Big Apple Connect’ and give over 2,000 more households the free internet they need. We will help more working-class New Yorkers save on the cost of this vital service, put money back into their pockets, and deliver, once again, on our commitment to create a more affordable city for working-class families.”
“Access to reliable, high-speed internet is a fundamental necessity in today’s world. With ‘Liberty Link,’ we are extending the reach of our digital equity work to ensure that more New Yorkers, regardless of income or zip code, can fully participate in our economy and society,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión, Jr. “This program is about ensuring equal opportunity and creating a more connected and inclusive city.”
“At HPD, we talk a lot about housing as a foundation. But today is about what we build on top of that foundation: access to jobs, education, health care — all of which increasingly depend on access to the internet,” said HPD Acting Commissioner Tigani. “For the families we serve, the internet isn’t a luxury — it’s how you find a job, get your kids through school, stay connected to health care and community. With ‘Liberty Link,’ we’re meeting people where they are and removing a barrier that’s held too many New Yorkers back for far too long.”
“Part of the Library’s mission is to promote free access to information, and in today’s digital world that means internet access,” said Anthony W. Marx, president, The New York Public Library. “From applying to jobs to staying informed, the internet is increasingly necessary to fully participate in society. This is why we are so committed to closing the digital divide and proud to help spearhead this innovative program designed to deliver free at-home Wi-Fi to lower-income New Yorkers.”
The Liberty Link pilot program will run for three years and test a range of models and technologies to identify the most effective and scalable approaches for a citywide expansion. As part of the Adams administration’s efforts to increase investments in minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs), approximately half of the pilot’s funding will be awarded to M/WBEs to install, maintain, and operate the network infrastructure. Network design and procurement will begin this summer, with service rollout expected to begin by the end of 2025.
Liberty Link will operate in 35 buildings with 100-percent affordable housing across the Bronx and Upper Manhattan. These buildings include properties owned by non-profit housing providers such as Comunilife, JASA, Lantern Community Services, Lutheran Social Services, PIBLY Residential Programs, Services for the Underserved, and Urban Pathways. Many residents of these buildings participate in the Section 8 rental assistance program and currently face barriers to internet access.
Liberty Link builds on the Adams administration’s continued investment in closing the city’s digital divide and delivering public services that meet the needs of New Yorkers where they live. Mayor Adams originally launched Big Apple Connect in September 2022 to provide residents of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments with a free bundle that consists of in-home, high-speed internet connection, basic cable TV service, and access to common area Wi-Fi hotspots, selected in consultation with NYCHA. After a first phase that reached more than 90,000 households across 135 NYCHA developments, the Adams administration has steadily expanded Big Apple Connect to reach 150,000 households, and 330,000 total New Yorkers, citywide across 220 NYCHA facilities.
Additionally, earlier this year, the Adams administration announced a $2.4 million “NYC Digital Equity Roadmap” to advance digital equity for underserved communities across the five boroughs. The investment will make it easier for New Yorkers of all ages to access devices and digital literacy skills programming in their communities, including renovating computer labs in libraries and older adult centers. The roadmap outlines 11 new initiatives — including the creation of an interagency Digital Equity Working Group, expanding the city’s NYCHA mobile computer lab fleet, the creation of a new chief digital equity officer, and more — to meet the immediate needs of under connected New Yorkers.
Liberty Link further supports the goals of the Adams administration’s “Housing Our Neighbors” blueprint to expand broadband access in affordable housing developments as well as the “New” New York Panel’s “Making New York Work for Everyone” action plan, which calls for greater investment in partnerships with public libraries to support remote work and address broadband gaps in historically marginalized communities. Today’s announcement responds directly to the unique needs of the residents in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, with a recent study by the Center for an Urban Future finding that 22 percent of Bronx households still lack home internet, and 184,000 households lack a computer.
“Reliable access to high-speed internet is fundamental to ensuring equal opportunities in education, employment, and civic engagement. I commend Mayor Adams, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and the New York Public Library for their leadership in launching the Liberty Link program,” said New York State Assemblymember George Alvarez. “This vital initiative will provide thousands of low-income families in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan with affordable, high-quality internet service, representing a significant advancement.”
“By bringing free and affordable Wi-Fi to thousands of affordable housing residents through the new ‘Liberty Link’ program, our libraries are once again stepping up to bridge the digital divide. From books and job resources to language classes and now building-wide Wi-Fi, public libraries remain one of New York City’s greatest equalizers, connecting New Yorkers not just to information, but to opportunity,” said New York City Councilmember Carlina Rivera. “As chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs and Libraries, I will keep fighting to ensure our libraries have the funding and support they need to expand this vital work.”
“Access to the internet is a necessity, not a luxury. From day one, I advocated to get free Wi-Fi for all, starting with NYCHA residents and low-income New Yorkers. The city’s expansion of free and low-cost internet through HPD and NYPL’s ‘Liberty Link’ program is a big step toward closing the digital divide,” said New York City Councilmember Julie Won. “Thank you to the mayor, CTO Fraser, HPD, and NYPL for prioritizing basic digital connectivity for all New Yorkers.”
“Access to high-quality internet is no longer a luxury — it is essential for education, career advancement, and meaningful participation in today’s world,” said Dr. Larry Johnson Jr., president, Bronx Community College. “The Liberty Link pilot program will transform the lives of thousands of residents in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan by providing reliable internet access and the digital literacy skills needed to thrive. We commend Mayor Adams for his commitment to closing the digital divide while supporting minority- and women-owned businesses, and Bronx Community College is proud to support initiatives that connect our communities to opportunity.”
“Urban Pathways is thrilled to partner with the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the New York Public Library on this exciting initiative,” said Ariel Garcia, chief housing development officer, Urban Pathways. “‘Liberty Link’ will offer our residents fast, free, reliable internet access, as well as access to the vast educational resources that the New York Public Library has to offer. Many of our residents are unable to frequent their local libraries, however the convenience of bringing this resource to them, free of charge, will be of great benefit. We thank the Mayor’s Office, HPD, and NYPL for the vision and fortitude to implement this invaluable program.”
“We are thrilled to have four of our supportive and affordable communities included in HPD’s wireless network pilot to provide free internet services to buildings with large Section 8 populations in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan,” said Michael O’Donnell, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Comunilife. “This project will bring high-speed fiber internet service to our formerly homeless and low income residents — closing the digital divide and providing essential access to jobs, education, health care and family — all critical to their continued success and wellbeing!”
“At Per Scholas, we know that digital access is the foundation of economic opportunity,” said Debbie Roman, managing director, Per Scholas New York. “This initiative will empower thousands of individuals and families in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan with access to life-changing educational and career opportunities.”
July 23 2025 NEW YORK CITY HALL, MANHATTAN
SOURCES: NYC.GOV , Big New York News BigNY.com
TV503 New York news
