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New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) today announced the launch of Connect IBZ: Broadband Expansion in Industrial Business Zones (Connect IBZ), a $5.3 million public-private partnership that will construct access to high-speed Internet in IBZs in New York City by expanding broadband infrastructure in currently underserved areas. The program will create high-speed commercial broadband networks in the Southwest Brooklyn, Long Island City, North Brooklyn, and Greenpoint-Williamsburg IBZs, which are among the Citys Digital Deserts. Fast and reliable broadband access has become increasingly critical for businesses of all types in New York City, and Connect IBZ will help increase access to broadband connectivity for hundreds of businesses in these currently underserved communities. The networks in the four IBZs will be designed, constructed, maintained, and operated by Stealth Communications Services LLC, and Xchange Telecom LLC, two New York City-based Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
Through the Connect IBZ program, Stealth Communications will build a fiber optic network in the Southwest Brooklyn IBZ, and will work with NYCEDC and members of the community to determine a site for an outdoor wireless network that will be free to the public. Xchange Telecom will create a fiber core, fixed-wireless edge broadband network in the Long Island City, North Brooklyn, and Greenpoint- Williamsburg IBZs, enabling customers to receive service from...