File #: Int 2075-2020    Version: * Name: Providing public school students with mobile hotspot devices.
Type: Introduction Status: Filed (End of Session)
Committee: Committee on Technology
On agenda: 9/16/2020
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to providing public school students with mobile hotspot devices
Sponsors: Mathieu Eugene, Ben Kallos, Margaret S. Chin
Council Member Sponsors: 3
Summary: The proposed bill would require the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DOITT), in consultation with the Department of Education (DOE) to purchase and distribute mobile hotspot devices to all NYC public school students. The COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of remote learning shined a light on the inequity of all students’ ability to connect to the internet at home to facilitate their remote learning. This bill would ensure all students can continue to receive the free public education they are entitled to under the law even when physical school buildings are closed for any part of the academic year.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 2075, 2. Int. No. 2075, 3. September 16, 2020 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 9-16-20, 5. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - September 16, 2020

Int. No. 2075

 

By Council Members Eugene, Kallos and Chin

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to providing public school students with mobile hotspot devices

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. The administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new title 34 to read as follows:

Title 34: Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications

Chapter 1: General Provisions

§ 34-101 Definitions. As used in this title, the following terms have the following meanings:

Commissioner. The term “commissioner” means the commissioner of information technology and telecommunications.

Department. The term “department” means the department of information technology and telecommunications.

Mobile hotspot device. The term “mobile hotspot device” means an ad hoc wireless access point that is created by a dedicated hardware device.

Student. The term “student” means any pupil under the age of 21 as of September first of the academic period being reported, who does not have a high school diploma and who is enrolled in a district school within the city district, not including pre-kindergarten students.

§ 34-102 Mobile hotspot devices. In consultation with the department of education and any other agency the commissioner deems necessary, the department shall provide every student with a mobile hotspot device. Such distribution shall be subject to terms and conditions as determined by the commissioner in consultation with the department of education.

Chapter 2: Reporting

§ 34-201. Reporting on mobile hotspot devices. a. On or before December 1, 2021, and annually thereafter, the department shall submit to the mayor and speaker of the council and post on the department’s website a mobile hotspot device report reflecting information from September 1 of the year in which the report is issued, which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. The number of mobile hotspot devices in the custody of the department and the date on which the count was conducted;

2. The number and total cost of new mobile hotspot devices purchased by the department since the date of the last report submitted pursuant to this section. The department shall also list the reasons for the purchase of new mobile hotspot devices;

3. The number of mobile hotspot devices no longer in the custody of the department since the date of the last report submitted pursuant to this subdivision and the reason for such loss of custody;

4. The number of mobile hotspot devices loaned to the department of education; and

5. The annual cost to the department to maintain an inventory of mobile hotspot devices. Such cost shall be further disaggregated by repair cost and general maintenance cost.

b. On August 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the department shall submit to the mayor and speaker of the council and post on the department’s website a mobile hotspot device report which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. The number of mobile hotspot devices in the custody of the department and the date on which the count was conducted; and

2. The number of mobile hotspot devices returned by the department of education since the end of the academic year in the year which the report required pursuant to this subdivision is issued. If such number differs from the number in paragraph 4 of the report required pursuant to subdivision a of this section, a detailed explanation of why the numbers differ.

c. The reports required pursuant to this section shall be archived for three years on the department’s website and shall remain publicly available.

Chapter 3: Rules

§ 34-301. The commissioner may promulgate rules for the implementation of this title.

§ 2. This law takes effect 180 days after it becomes law.

 

 

MMB

LS # 14,453

8/31/20; 11:41 a.m.