In a news release this week, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the Chromebooks will be equipped with T-Mobile LTE or 5G access and given to students across 1,700 schools throughout the five boroughs this school year, as part of an effort to bridge the digital divide in under-connected communities.
“Access to reliable technology and high-speed Internet is a modern-day necessity,” Adams said in a public statement. “And, right now, too many New York City students don’t have it. That doesn’t just prevent progress inside the classroom, it limits opportunities outside of it.”
According to the city’s digital equity road map, New York provides more residents with free Internet access than any other city in the U.S. However, a July 2025 report by the nonpartisan think tank Center for an Urban Future estimated 31 percent of Bronx households lack access to a household computer, and 22 percent of households lack broadband.
“Expanding broadband adoption is a crucial step in closing the digital divide, but many Bronx households still lack the most essential tool for meaningful digital participation: a computer,” the report said. “While smartphones are useful for basic tasks, they fall short for everything from submitting job and housing applications to accessing city services, completing schoolwork, attending virtual classes, and working remotely — limiting full participation in today’s digital world."
In addition to supporting students who require keyboard-equipped devices for academic instruction and assessments, the city's news release also said regular device usage will improve students' digital literacy, including skills like typing, online research and responsible Internet use.
The city said all Chromebooks will have key applications preloaded, including Google Workspace, TeachHub and iLearnNYC.
“Advancing digital opportunity for New York City students is essential to improving learning outcomes and empowering the next generation to do great things,” Joe Simone, senior vice president of education at the IT services company CDW, a partner of the initiative, said in a public statement. “We’re honored to work alongside Dell, T-Mobile, and the city of New York to help scale technology access and empower communities by providing these tools and support that will help keep students and their families connected and engaged while accelerating skill development and economic growth across the city.”
