Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced that New York City will distribute 350,000 Chromebooks with built‑in 5G LTE service to underserved K–12 students as part of an effort to "bridge the digital divide." The devices, provided through a partnership with T‑Mobile, will be distributed to students across 1,700 public schools during the coming school year, city officials said.
Adams made the announcement at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx alongside Yankees All‑Star second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., Department of Education Chancellor Melissa Aviles‑Ramos and the city’s chief technology officer, Matthew Fraser. The city said the program will target schools with the greatest device coverage needs first and then prioritize students in temporary housing and high‑poverty areas. DOE officials pledged to complete distribution by the end of the school year.
Adams described the initiative as an investment in the city’s future workforce. "350,000 students in 1,700 schools will receive Chromebooks with 5G internet access and optimized educational programs for free. That’s 350,000 future writers, teachers, mathematicians in the making," he said.
The city said the devices will include free LTE and 5G network service provided by T‑Mobile and will come preloaded with educational programs optimized for the Chromebooks. The administration estimated the program will cost $327 million, covering capital costs and operational expenses over four years.
Officials said the funding largely stems from savings generated by a February agreement in which the Adams administration designated T‑Mobile as a major wireless carrier for city communications in exchange for discounted cellular service for city employees. City officials said those plan savings are being redirected to finance the Chromebook rollout.
Chisholm, who was born in the Bahamas and joined the mayor at the event to show support, said the effort resonated with his own experiences. "I’ve been in New York for two years now, and this is like the seventh school I’ve visited, and this is the seventh time we’re doing this," he said. "I love giving back to the community because this reminds me of where I grew up."
DOE Chancellor Aviles‑Ramos said the department is committing to a full distribution schedule. "We’re committing to completing the distribution of these devices across the school year. So by the end of this school year, every single student will have received a device," she said.
Matthew Fraser, the city’s chief technology officer, outlined operational plans for deploying devices and connecting them to the T‑Mobile network. The city did not provide a specific timeline for when individual schools would receive shipments, but said distribution will begin with schools identified as having the greatest need.
The announcement follows other municipal efforts to expand internet access and device availability for students in recent years, as education officials and city leaders have sought to reduce connectivity gaps that became more visible during the COVID‑19 pandemic. City leaders emphasized the new program as a continuation of those efforts and as a targeted use of savings from the city’s wireless contract to support student access to digital learning tools.
City officials said they will provide further details on rollout logistics, device management and accountability measures as distribution begins. School officials and community groups are expected to receive guidance on device use policies and support resources once shipments commence.