City Expands Free Broadband to 20% of Bronx Households Lacking Internet

More than 131,700 Bronx households, over one in five, do not have broadband internet at home, the highest rate of any borough in New York City. The gap, which worsened after the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) expired in 2024, leaves the borough with a stubborn digital divide that affects education, employment, and daily life.

Affordability Remains the Core Barrier

Cost is the primary obstacle. Bronx households spend 1.1% of their income on internet service, double the burden in Manhattan, according to data compiled by the NYC Future research group. The average price for a 100/20 Mbps broadband plan in the Bronx is $79.83 a month, the highest in the city. While 99.8% of the borough is wired for high-speed service, Optimum is available to more than 99% of addresses, and Verizon Fios covers much of the rest, affordability keeps many from signing up. Nearly two in ten Bronx households (19.2%) rely solely on smartphones for internet, facing data caps and slower speeds that limit schoolwork and job searches.

City Pilot Delivers Free Connections

In response, New York City launched the 'Neighborhood Internet' initiative in 2025. The pilot program already provides free broadband to more than 700 low-income households in the Bronx, with plans to expand to 2,200 apartments across 39 buildings over three years. Officials estimate the program saves participating families more than $800 a year. The effort targets the areas hit hardest by the end of the ACP, which had served 44% of Bronx households before its expiration. For residents like those in buildings along the Grand Concourse and near Fordham Road, the service could mean the difference between sharing a single phone connection for homework or having a dedicated line for remote work.

What Comes Next

While Neighborhood Internet is still small relative to the 131,700 households that lack home broadband, city officials say the phased rollout will bring fiber connections to more public housing and affordable units in the coming months. For now, the most affordable option for many families remains a wired plan from Optimum or Verizon Fios; T-Mobile's 5G home internet offers the fastest speeds available, up to 245 Mbps, but still carries a monthly cost that can strain budgets in a borough where the digital divide is measured in dollars as much as data.