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Int 1224-2025

Requiring shelters to provide free internet access to residents.

IntroductionFiledCommittee on General Welfareintroduced 2025-03-26

Filed — closed without being enacted.

Official record · Legistar

Agenda: 2025-03-26Passed: 2025-12-31

Summary

This bill would require the commissioner of the Department of Social Services (DSS) to ensure that all shelters provide free broadband Wi-Fi internet access to residents.

Committee on General Welfare — Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services, Department of Homeless Services, and charitable institutions.

How it compares

14% of similar bills passed

7 passed · 43 died

This bill: 280 days in committee

Similar bills: median 395 days · 237 days when passed

Sponsors (20)

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams

Lifecycle

IntroducedIntroduced by Council
2025-03-26 · City Council
ActionReferred to Comm by Council
2025-03-26 · City Council
ClosedFiled (End of Session)
2025-12-31 · City Council

Heard at (1)

City Council · 2025-03-26 · 1:30 PM · Council Chambers - City Hall

Attachments (4)

Full text
Be it enacted by the Council as follows: Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-153 to read as follows: � 21-153 Internet access in shelters. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings: Broadband. The term "broadband" means any high-speed internet access that is always on. Internet access. The term "internet access" means the ability to connect to the internet using computers or other devices and to access services such as email or the world wide web. Shelter. The term "shelter" means temporary emergency housing provided by the department of homeless services, the human resources administration/department of social services, the department of housing preservation and development, or the department of youth and community development or by a provider under contract or similar agreement with any of these agencies. Wi-fi. The term "wi-fi" means wireless networking technology that enables the user to access or connect to a network using radio waves. b. No later than 6 months after the effective date of the local law that added this section, the commissioner, in coordination with any other agency that operates a shelter, shall develop a plan to ensure that all shelters provide, at no cost to residents, broadband wi-fi internet access and access to computers with broadband wi-fi internet access. c. No later than 18 months after the effective date of the local law that added this section, the commissioner, in coordination with any other agency that operates a shelter, shall ensure that all shelters provide, at no cost to residents, broadband wi-fi internet access and access to computers with broadband internet access. � 2. This local law takes effect immediately. EH LS #4457/5319/7742/16744 3/21/2025 9:15 AM 2 2