File #: Int 0290-2026    Version: * Name: Requiring shelters to provide free internet access to residents.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on General Welfare
On agenda: 1/29/2026
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring shelters to provide free internet access to residents
Sponsors: Farah N. Louis, Amanda C. Farías, Chris Banks, Christopher Marte, Crystal Hudson, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Shahana K. Hanif, Althea V. Stevens, Tiffany L. Cabán
Council Member Sponsors: 9
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.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 290, 2. Int. No. 290, 3. January 29, 2026 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 1-29-26

Int. No. 290

 

By Council Members Louis, Farías, Banks, Marte, Hudson, Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Stevens and Cabán

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring shelters to provide free internet access to residents

 

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

Int. #1224-2025

1/7/2026 3:26 PM