New York City’s Office of Technology and Innovation on Wednesday launched Get Online NYC, a citywide campaign aimed at New Yorkers who still do not have reliable internet or devices. The effort bundles outreach, one-on-one help and training with existing city programs so residents can get through enrollment, device support and basic digital skills. Officials say the work will zero in on neighborhoods with the biggest connectivity gaps.
According to a press release from the city’s Office of Technology and Innovation, the campaign will pay for partnerships with the Department of Education, the three public library systems, community-based organizations and internet providers. The announcement notes that the program includes a digital navigator network to help residents sign up for the federal Affordable Connectivity Program and other subsidies, along with free training and device support.
What Get Online NYC Offers
The city plans to lean on tools New Yorkers already pass every day, from LinkNYC kiosks to neighborhood library computer centers, turning them into sites for sign-up events and skills workshops. The Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit’s Get Online hub lists those resources and highlights partnerships geared toward seniors, students and public-housing residents. City partners will also run public information campaigns and local PSAs to make sure word of the new help actually reaches the people who need it.
How New Yorkers Can Get Help
Internet providers including Optimum and Spectrum are expected to hold on-site enrollment events with city agencies, while neighborhood tech helpers offer face-to-face support at libraries and community centers. The Big Apple Connect program, which already provides free in-home broadband to hundreds of thousands of NYCHA residents, will double as an outreach channel, according to the Mayor's Office. Residents are encouraged to keep an eye out for local enrollment events and chances for one-on-one digital help in their own neighborhoods.
Where This Fits In
Enrollment assistance is not just a nice extra. Research shows many households that qualify for federal connectivity subsidies never actually sign up, which makes navigator-style outreach a key tactic for closing the gaps. The new campaign builds on the Adams administration’s recent digital-equity investments and the city’s ongoing Big Apple Connect work to expand internet access and on-the-ground support. Local reporting has followed those earlier investments and the city’s broader digital equity roadmap.
OTI’s commissioner has framed the campaign as a step toward closing New York’s digital divide and helping residents tap into benefits and core skills, according to the department’s announcement. City officials say the rollout will unfold over the coming months through coordinated outreach with community partners.
For specific details on events, enrollment support and available resources, New Yorkers can check the city’s Get Online hub or look at listings from local libraries and participating providers. According to the Mayor’s Get Online page, LinkNYC kiosks, library computer centers and Big Apple Connect are among the main front doors residents can use to get connected.
