- 5 months ago
During an announcement on Monday, New York City's Democratic Mayor Eric Adams announced the distribution of laptops to New York City students.
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00:00Good morning, everyone. We could do better than that. Good morning. Thank you. We're in the Bronx. I know you're louder than that. I am so happy to be here today at DeWitt Clinton High School alongside our mayor, Eric Adams.
00:19We are also joined by our chief technology officer of OTI, Matthew Frazier, chief marketing officer of T-Mobile, Moe Kataba, our partners at Dell and Yankees player, Jazz Chisholm.
00:49And, of course, dear friends, Superintendent Marcel Deans and Principal Pierre Orbe.
01:02Today marks another incredible stride in supporting our children and communities, creating equity for our students and bridging the digital divide.
01:13I'd like to thank all our partners who have made this a success, many of whom you'll hear from today.
01:19And let's give a big round of applause for our students who are standing behind us today.
01:28And now I'd like to introduce our mayor, Mayor Eric Adams, for today's announcement.
01:34Thanks so much, Chancellor, you know, right here from the Bronx, has a child in public school.
01:45And really, when you think about it, what she has done as her time as chancellor has been remarkable with some of the announcements that we have been making.
01:57Back during 2020, 2020, 2021, when I was campaigning to run for office, prior to that, we were impacted by COVID.
02:09And I was in many parts of the city, particularly NYCHA, knocking on doors, handing out PPEs and face masks.
02:19And when I was speaking to the residents there, many of our children were learning remotely, many of you were learning remotely, and mothers had to do what was called telemedicine.
02:31It was new to the city for the most part.
02:33And as I went from floor to floor, building to building, I realized that many of our scholars did not have access to high-speed broadband and were unable to go online.
02:46We were telling them to go online, but they did not have devices, and they did not have access to high-speed broadband.
02:52And I just took notes as I moved throughout the city, and it was clear to me we had a city where resources were plentiful, and we had a city where resources were lacking, and it was ignored.
03:07And we made clear when we came into office, we were going to dismantle each area where we saw the lack of resources in general, but specifically around access to technology.
03:21And one of the most important things we did was to assemble a team that understood that, and that was the first person of color to be the chief technology officer in Matt Frazier.
03:38And what Matt did, what our chief technology officer did was remarkable.
03:45There was many layers to his accomplishment.
03:47First thing he did was free, high-speed broadband internet service to all NYCHA residents in the city, and now we're expanding it to other low-income housing residents as well.
04:06But now we're moving to the next phase, because it must be a holistic approach to doing this.
04:11And as we have a star Yankee player here, we also knew you have to build the right team.
04:19And we did it by bringing on and partnering with T-Mobile.
04:24And we want to thank T-Mobile for what they are doing, but also you needed a real leader of that team to bring this package together.
04:33And we did it with not only my chief of staff, Camille Joseph-Valla, but also the amazing first deputy mayor, Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro, who brought this home and made it happen.
04:45And so we want to thank our chancellor for what she's doing to prepare our scholars for the future.
04:56And you can't do it without access to reliable technology and high-speed internet.
05:03It is a crucial part of this component.
05:07And right now, too many of our students don't have it.
05:09They don't have access to it.
05:11The whole thought of being able to have a Chromebook or iPad is just not realistic when you're dealing in tough economic times.
05:20But we knew we could make it happen if we brought the right partners together.
05:25And we cannot allow that access to be lacking in our classrooms.
05:30It limits not only how you have your creative energy, but it limits opportunities outside of our classroom.
05:39But anything is possible when you believe, when you believe in people, when you believe in young people, and you believe in families.
05:45And so this school year, we are powering up education in our city.
05:50And since you all know that Stan Lee went to this high school and went to create legendary superheroes,
05:57so today we are unveiling our new superhero, and we like to call him Chromebook Man.
06:03It is superpower, it is bridging the digital divide with a simple flick of a thumbs up.
06:12So today, as our first act, we are announcing that we will be providing 350,000 New York City public school students
06:21with brand new personal computers with LTE access.
06:26Each student will have access to the internet.
06:30And as part of our continuing efforts to ensure their academic success and bridge the digital divide,
06:37and because we know that too many families are still struggling with the cost of living
06:41and cannot always afford new internet-enabled devices,
06:46we are providing these devices to students for free.
06:50Think about that for a moment.
06:52350,000, you can applaud to that.
06:54350,000 students in 1,700 schools will receive Chromebooks with 5G internet access
07:08and optimized educational programs for free.
07:12That's 350,000 future writers, teachers, mathematicians in the making.
07:17350,000, Jane Baldwins, Shirley Chisholms, and other great leaders are preparing to use these devices
07:25to access the unlimited supply of information that is on our internet now.
07:32These are future mayors, future congressmen, future leaders, future presidents.
07:36And because 350,000 students will soon possess the essential tools necessary to succeed in today's digital learning environment,
07:46this is a monumental investment in our young people's potential and working class families of our city.
07:54And our proactive data-driven rollout strategy is closing the gap in device access across all public school systems.
08:01We're using data to ensure that the Chromebooks are distributed in areas where the need is the greatest.
08:09We're going to focus on the locations where the needs are the greatest.
08:14So that students are able to continue their learning, take advantage of remote opportunities,
08:20and apply for jobs in colleges.
08:22So let's keep this in mind.
08:23We may have taken away cell phones during the day, but you got Chromebooks for the entire day.
08:31And by providing students with keyboard-enabled devices, crucial for writing, researching, and completing assignments,
08:39we are replacing outdated equipment that no longer meets current instructional and security standards.
08:46And just really want to credit the team that made this happen.
08:50And as I indicated, CTO Matt Frazier, our chancellor, Melissa Villas-Ramos, first deputy mayor, Randy Mastro,
09:00chief of staff, Camille Joseph-Follock, and the entire team.
09:04They are ensuring that the nation's largest school district remains ahead of the curve.
09:10And we cannot thank T-Mobile enough.
09:12New York City announced an agreement with T-Mobile to become a major wireless carrier to support city operation.
09:20And this agreement did not only save taxpayers millions of dollars in their phone bills on city-issued devices,
09:28it ensured we could pay for these devices that students have high-speed internet regardless of where they live.
09:36Our success could no longer be determined by the zip code we're from.
09:40It must be determined by you are a New York City resident, period.
09:47And so I want to thank all of our partners.
09:49This initiative is crucial as we continue to strive for a stronger, fairer, and more affordable city.
09:55At a time when the world's information is just a click away,
09:59we cannot wait any longer to expand access to this technology.
10:04And that is what we're doing every day.
10:07The right team, the right partnership, making it happen for our New Yorkers.
10:12We will equip them with the skills they need to succeed,
10:16and we're working to build a better future.
10:18Now you're getting a free device,
10:20and we are going to make sure that the device is handed out appropriately.
10:24We want to first turn it over back to our chancellor,
10:29and she would give her comments.
10:32Chancellor.
10:34Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor.
10:40And as always, it is a pleasure to be a part of a team that prioritizes children and families.
10:46And so now it is my honor to invite the chief technology officer of OCI,
10:50Matthew Frazier, to say a couple of words.
10:56All right.
10:56Good morning, everyone.
11:00Good morning.
11:01I'm going to try it like the chancellor did.
11:02Good morning, everyone.
11:04Good morning.
11:04Hey.
11:05You know?
11:06So the reason why we're here today and the reason why we're getting together
11:11isn't just about tablets and connectivity.
11:14When I think of moments like this and I look at the opportunity that we have
11:18and the power that we have, I'm reminiscent of something that my late Uncle Ben told me.
11:25He said, with great power comes great responsibility.
11:30That's Uncle Ben from Spider-Man, and because we're in the house of Stanley, I figured we would say that.
11:34But that's a true statement.
11:35What we're talking about here is the great equalizer.
11:39When you look at education and what it means to so many in the city,
11:43when you come into a space where you may not have the economic means to have the best clothes,
11:47to have the best toys, the best cars, the best tools,
11:51one of the things that can get you out of that systemic cycle of poverty is access to education.
11:58And day by day, year by year, as time progresses,
12:01technology becomes the underpinning of how education is delivered.
12:04When I went to school, back in my day,
12:08one of the things that they used to do was teach every student on how to get a library card
12:13and how to go to the library to get information.
12:15It was a critical part of how we got information to do research and to do homeworks.
12:20Now you look at the modern age, the way that most students do research,
12:23the way that most students get information is through technology, through a digital age.
12:28And it's a shame that we have so many people that go home
12:31and they don't have access to Internet at home.
12:32So the connectivity that we're providing today, the devices that we're providing today,
12:37is a lifeline for the future riders, for the future leaders of the city,
12:41for the future leaders of the world.
12:42Those that are interested in taking their academic career forward
12:46and changing the world in a magnificent way.
12:48This gives them the pathway to do that.
12:50But none of this would be possible without strong partners.
12:53So I'd like to thank our partners at T-Mobile, our partners at Dell,
12:56and our partners within the city.
12:59Because without us as a collective, it wouldn't happen.
13:02And I'd also like to thank Jazz Chisholm from the Yankees for showing up
13:05to show support for a great program like this.
13:07In addition to education, sports is a pathway out to the future.
13:10So having one of our leaders of one of the New York sports teams here supporting us
13:14is also a big thing for us as well.
13:16But I'd like to thank you all for showing up today.
13:19And I'm excited to see how these devices will reach out
13:22and how these devices will change the shape of New York City and the world forever.
13:29And with that, I'd like to introduce Mo,
13:33who's the Chief Marketing Officer for T-Mobile.
13:39Good morning.
13:41Hello, everybody.
13:42How's everyone doing?
13:44What an incredible announcement, incredible morning.
13:47Thank you for letting us be here and be a part of it.
13:50What the city is doing here today isn't just a technology upgrade.
13:54It's a leap forward in equity, in education, and in opportunity.
13:59Because when you unlock reliable mobile-first connectivity for 350,000 students,
14:05you're not just connecting devices.
14:08You're powering generational potential at massive scale.
14:12As the mayor mentioned, T-Mobile is incredibly proud to have been awarded
14:16a landmark connectivity deal by New York City earlier this year,
14:20becoming the major wireless provider supporting city operations.
14:25And from the beginning, this partnership was more than being just about connectivity.
14:30It was about making sure city employees, including first responders,
14:34had access to cutting-edge technology and the reliable service that they need.
14:40Today, we're taking that even further.
14:43Break.
14:45It's time for a break.
14:46Bringing 350,000 students into the equation.
14:51350,000 students that are now going to have the tools to learn,
14:54to explore, and reach their full potential.
14:57And we couldn't be more excited to help the students close their digital divide along with the city.
15:04This is something that's deeply personal for us at T-Mobile.
15:09And not just here in New York.
15:11Why?
15:12Because the challenge is real and it's growing.
15:15In fact, there was a recent survey,
15:17and what we found was that nearly one in four parents are cutting back on essentials,
15:23like food or utilities,
15:25in order to be able to afford Internet access for themselves and their children.
15:29And it's just heartbreaking.
15:31And it's completely unacceptable.
15:32And it's why this initiative matters so much
15:36and why I think it's a beacon for the rest of the country.
15:40It's not just another program.
15:42It's something that will have an immediate, tangible difference in the lives of every New Yorker.
15:48And for students specifically, it's a game changer.
15:51Think about it.
15:52Cellular connectivity is more pervasive than Wi-Fi, period.
15:56It means that a student can simply open their new laptop
16:00and connect from virtually anywhere to get their work done.
16:04It doesn't matter where they live.
16:06It doesn't matter what their after-school situation looks like.
16:10It doesn't matter where their activities take them.
16:12With connectivity on the nation's best mobile network,
16:16they can log in on their way to school, at home,
16:19or even from a park bench or anywhere in between.
16:22It's that kind of access that changes everything.
16:26It removes friction.
16:28It drives inclusion.
16:30And it levels the playing field in a way that fixed solutions never could.
16:34We're proud to be serving and supporting New York City today,
16:39not just as a technology partner, but as a force multiplier for student success.
16:45Because this isn't about megabytes or modems.
16:48It's about what's possible when every single student in every borough
16:53gets a fair shot at the future.
16:56And with that, I will hand it off to Mr. June, one of the local students.
17:04Hello, my name is William June.
17:12I'm a senior and I'm a youth leader.
17:15I'm here to just praise this wonderful opportunity we've been given
17:20and give thanks from the student body.
17:24Bringing personal laptops to our school isn't just about keeping up with technology.
17:28It's about giving every student a real shot at success.
17:31With these laptops to take home, learning doesn't just stop when the bell rings.
17:37Homework, research, projects, all of it becomes more accessible.
17:41And let's be real.
17:42Typing an essay on a laptop...
17:44And let's be real.
17:48Typing an essay on a laptop is a lot faster than trying to type it fast on a phone.
17:52For teachers, it opens the door to more creative lessons.
17:55For students, it means building real-world digital skills while also learning responsibility.
18:01After all, if you can take care of a laptop every day,
18:04you're practicing the same accountability expected in a college or workplace environment.
18:08Most importantly, this program levels the playing field for everyone.
18:12Not every student has access to reliable tech at home.
18:16And now, no one gets left behind.
18:18Laptops don't just upgrade our classrooms.
18:21They upgrade opportunities.
18:23They upgrade futures.
18:24And, if we're being real, they make homework just a little less painful.
18:29Thank you for the opportunity, and I wish everyone a wonderful day.
18:43We're going to do some on-topics.
18:46Thank you, Tony.
18:50Marsha.
18:51Good morning, Mr. Mayor.
18:52How are you?
18:53So I'm wondering if you could tell me an event like this.
18:57The use of the power of incumbency is something...
19:01An event like this, the use of the power of incumbency is something that will help you in your campaign to get re-elected,
19:11and what kind of a message it sends to the people who wanted you to drop out?
19:17Next question.
19:18Come on, Mr. Mayor.
19:21This is the power of incumbency.
19:23Will it help you?
19:24Next question, Marsha.
19:27Come on.
19:27I know you've got more questions in there that's more suitable to the great things we're doing today.
19:31Mayor, and the Chancellor as well, you're talking about technology today.
19:38Do you think the cell phone bell-to-bell ban is working so far?
19:43And the mayor, you brought this up.
19:44We may have taken your phones away, but we're giving you this high-tech grid out there.
19:48We're hearing some buzz that some kids are trying to get around the cell phone ban, use a burner phone, drop something else in the bag.
19:55I'm wondering, Chancellor, if you've heard about that and how it's going so far.
19:58And the Chancellor could talk about it, but if children or young people or young scholars are trying to get around,
20:06this is all part of their creative spirit and energy.
20:09We did it.
20:10Let's not act like when we were in school we didn't have all our little tricks on how we got around things.
20:15This is all a part of creativity.
20:17We have to match their creativity.
20:19We're making sure the rules are followed.
20:21But I love how adults all of a sudden have selective amnesia on the things they did when they were young people.
20:27I know the things I did.
20:29And so, you know, this is all make us creative, and we're going to remain our creativity to make sure the cell phone ban stays in place.
20:36So, Chancellor?
20:39I don't know what you could say after that.
20:42But what I will say is that as a mother and a former high school teacher and principal, I've seen a lot.
20:47And what I know is to always expect young people to try to work around us.
20:51Am I right, young people?
20:53You're always going to find a way.
20:54So, this is why open dialogue with students is so important, and hearing how they feel about the implementation, and how they feel about the guardrails, and that they feel respected.
21:05And I want to make it clear, this is a law.
21:06We have to be compliant, right?
21:08But in our compliance, that doesn't mean that we have to be negligent in our connection with young people.
21:13And what we're doing here today, what the mayor pushed for, is our centering of technology and forward-thinking classrooms.
21:21So, while we are creating distraction-free zones, we talk a lot about banning cell phones, but let's be clear.
21:27This is about creating distraction-free zones where instruction, appropriate school-based technology, is a tool that we are using to forward innovation and creativity for our young people.
21:38Hi, Mr. Mayor.
21:45Kelly, how are you?
21:46Good.
21:47I have on-topic questions for you.
21:49Okay, I'm glad you do, but we're going on-topic.
21:51I wanted to know.
21:52Do you have an on-topic?
21:53Yeah, I do.
21:54Okay.
21:54Okay.
21:55I wanted to know how the students are going to be chosen, or the schools, and, you know, is this a permanent program?
22:03Is this temporary?
22:04How will it look for the future?
22:05Such a great question.
22:07So, we actually are working in phases to make sure that the students who need these devices the most are getting them fastest.
22:14We're committing to completing the distribution of these devices across the school year.
22:19So, by the end of this school year, every single student will have received a device.
22:24But we are starting with one-to-one device coverage, or devices that are older than five years.
22:29So, if a school has devices that are older than five years, they don't have the one-to-one devices, those schools will get access to these devices first.
22:38Our second priority is students in temporary housing, because we want to make sure that those students have everything that they need.
22:44As the mayor described what it looked like in COVID, we want to make sure that that doesn't happen again.
22:48Priority three is our high-poverty schools without devices, and the way that we define high poverty is a poverty rate of 86% and above.
22:57And right after that, priority four is our new schools and schools that have submitted appeals for additional devices.
23:06So, this really, when we talk about equity, this really ensured that we were putting devices in the hands of the young people who need it the most.
23:13So, yes, it is over four years.
23:19The young people do keep their devices with them until they graduate, so that's the nice thing.
23:23And should a device be misplaced, or if it is broken, then we will work with the school to make sure that devices are replaced.
23:30Hello, you know, I just, we can't have a star player here without saying a few words, you know, a sports figure, a player, an athlete.
23:49And, you know, when you talk about coming to the plate, striking out and coming back and going back at bat, never surrender, never giving up, never worrying about those who are in the bleachers, who boo you, who yell at you, who call you names, who want to see you fail.
24:06You got to get back up.
24:07You have to always remember there's another at bat, there's another game, there's a ring waiting for you.
24:13And so, as I tell people all the time, let your haters be your waiters when you sit down at the table of success.
24:21And so, here we have a star athlete.
24:24Please come and say a few words.
24:30How we doing, y'all?
24:33Sorry, I'm still trying to wake up a little bit.
24:35It's early for me.
24:37But, no, I just think it's great.
24:40You know, I've been in New York for two years now, and this is, like, the seventh school I visited, and this is the seventh time we're doing this.
24:49So, I love giving back.
24:51I love giving back to the community because this reminds me of where I grew up.
24:55And just to see a young kid like you come up here and be brave enough to speak in front of a lot of people.
25:01You know, I don't know how many times you've done it, but you see, like, the love that your family and your friends give you.
25:09You know what I mean?
25:10You feel it.
25:10And we all are here for all of y'all.
25:13So, at the end of the day, I'm just happy to be here, and thank you guys for having me.
25:21Okay.
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