Translator Disclaimers
For Immediate Release: Contact: Shaheed Muhammad Morris
Date: 07/11/2023 609-477-0281
TRENTON, N.J. — July 11, 2023 — The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) Office of Broadband Connectivity will hold a series of local listening events to speak with interested community members about high-speed internet access needs in unserved and underserved populations. Input from these sessions will help guide the State’s Digital Equity Five-Year Action Plan and broadband program development. 

 

“Ensuring digital equity across our State will remove barriers to high-speed internet access that exist for too many residents,” said NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “Whether it’s a rural community where infrastructure doesn’t exist or households who have affordability constraints, our goal is to ensure access is available. We are hosting meetings in communities to hear directly from residents so that our Action Plan represents their voices and concerns.”

 

Upcoming “CONNECT NJ” community events with the NJBPU Office of Broadband Connectivity will be held in Burlington, Sussex, Camden and Atlantic Counties and is open to all New Jersey residents. 

 

The next event will take place in Burlington County on Monday, July 17 at 11 a.m. at the Reva Foster Senior Center, located at 429 John F. Kennedy Way, Willingboro, New Jersey.

 

This is the third of six local listening events the Office of Broadband Connectivity is holding across the state to hear the needs of New Jersey residents and businesses. Previous events were held in Trenton and Palmyra.

 

Other upcoming events on the “CONNECT NJ” Listening Tour:

 

Tuesday July 18th

  • 11:00am - Sussex County Main Library - 125 Morris Turnpike, Newton, NJ 07860

 

Wednesday July 19th

  • 3:30pm - Camden Dream Center - 1000 Atlantic Avenue, Camden, NJ 08104

 

Thursday July 20th

  • 10:00am - Pennsylvania Avenue School – 201 North Pennsylvania Avenue Atlantic City NJ 08401 - School Cafeteria

 

  • 1:00pm - Sovereign Avenue School – 3223 Artic Avenue Atlantic City NJ 08401 -  School Cafeteria

 

The public events will provide participants information about the importance of internet access and opportunities New Jersey offers to deliver internet to all through programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides a discount of up to $30 per month for internet services for eligible consumers.  

 

Additionally, the ACP provides a one-time device discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider. The one-time discount requires a consumer co-payment of more than $10 and less than $50.

The Office of Broadband Connectivity office is charged with implementing New Jersey’s Digital Equity and Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment programs, two federal formula programs that will collectively bring to New Jersey a historic level of funding to build out Internet for All. 

 

To learn more about the Office of Broadband Connectivity and upcoming events, visit www.nj.gov/connect. 

 

About the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU)

NJBPU is a state agency and regulatory authority mandated to ensure safe, adequate and proper utility services at reasonable rates for New Jersey customers. Critical services regulated by NJBPU include natural gas, electricity, water, wastewater, telecommunications and cable television. The Board has general oversight and responsibility for monitoring utility service, responding to consumer complaints, and investigating utility accidents. To find out more about NJBPU, visit our website at www.nj.gov/bpu.