Design Guidelines

Broadband

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Broadband

Right now, half of New Yorkers living in poverty do not have internet at home. The neighborhoods with the lowest rates of internet adoption are also the focus of most of the City’s affordable housing development.

Multifamily housing projects present opportunities to close this digital divide and improve the socioeconomic outcomes of many of the city’s most vulnerable populations. Internet service that is robust enough to perform modern tasks (also known as broadband) is essential for enrolling in government programs, seeking employment, and attending college. Broadband has become as necessary as a utility.

These design guidelines outline the requirements for the installation of fast and reliable broadband for all HPD-assisted multifamily new construction, supportive housing, senior housing, and preservation projects currently in HPD’s development pipeline. “Fast” is defined as speeds of at least 100 Megabits per Second (Mbps) upload and download, per unit, while “reliable” is defined as 99.9% uptime for the service.

Projects participating in the Inclusionary Housing incentive programs (either MIH or VIH) that are not subsidized through any HPD Loan Programs and projects receiving 421-a tax credits only are not subject to these guidelines.

This training on residential broadband for HPD’s development partners explains how to approach installing broadband in your projects.

Guidelines last updated June 2024
Diagram of a household network

Broadband Service Requirements:

  • Broadband service must be part of the tenant’s lease contract and at no additional cost to the tenant.
  • Speeds must be at least 100 Megabits per Second (Mbps) upload and download, per apartment.
  • Each household must have secured access through a unique profile.
  • If the internet service provider decides to offer additional service plans in the building with faster speeds, households should be given the option to enhance their individual level of service at their own cost.

Internet Service Provider Requirements:

  • The building may choose to contract with and/or provide access to one or more internet service providers (ISPs), including fiber ISPs, wireless ISPs, and managed ISPs.
  • While available, ISPs should take advantage of the Federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), if applicable.

Supply and Wiring Requirements

Option for New Construction and Preservation:

  • New Fiber, New Wiring: Fiber is trenched from the nearest telecommunications vault in the street to the building’s basement and then connected to a network switch in the basement. New wiring (fiber or cable) is run from the network switch to each floor in vertical risers.
  • Note: For properties with fewer than 50 units or for deals with multiple properties located close together, HPD may approve alternative installation plans. Please contact HPD’s Broadband team for a consultation: GetConnected@hpd.nyc.gov.

Options for Preservation Only:

  • New Fiber, Existing Wiring: Fiber is trenched from the nearest telecommunications vault in the street to the building’s basement and then connected to a new network switch in the basement, which is connected to existing wiring in the building.
  • Wireless/Mesh, New Wiring: An antenna is placed on the rooftop that has line-of-sight to the provider’s wireless network. The antenna is then connected to a network switch on the rooftop or in the basement. New wiring (fiber or cable) is run from the network switch to each floor in vertical risers.
  • Wireless/Mesh, Existing Wiring: An antenna is placed on the rooftop that has line-of-sight to the provider’s wireless network. The antenna is then connected to a new network switch on the rooftop or in the basement, which is connected to existing wiring in the building.

Unit Access Requirements

Options for New Construction and Preservation:

  • Wired Connection Point: Fiber or cable terminates in the living room or an easily accessible area of each dwelling unit at a wall jack, where it can be plugged into a router. For Preservation projects, this might leverage existing wired connection points and wiring.
  • Unit Access Point: Fiber or cable terminates at a ceiling-mounted access point (hotspot) in each dwelling unit vestibule.

Option for Preservation Only:

  • Hallway Access Point: Fiber or cable terminates at a hallway access point (hotspot) outside groups of multiple dwelling units.

Additional Requirements for All Projects:

• Building owners should retain ownership of the network infrastructure within the building. As a result, maintenance should be part of the contract with the ISP.
• All vertical and horizontal cabling pathways should be easily accessible and have room for the addition of more cabling in the future.

Additional Requirements for New Construction Projects:

The building must provide wireless service in common areas, including: lobbies, lounges and common rooms, laundry rooms, outdoor areas, and other shared spaces.

Additional Requirements for Sub and Gut Rehab Preservation Projects:

The building must provide wireless service in large lobbies, common rooms, and shared outdoor spaces.

Common spaces like vestibules, doorways, small lobbies, or other common areas where multiple people cannot easily sit or stand to access the internet service do not require broadband.

If there are questions, sponsors should inquire whether their common spaces are too small by reaching out to HPD’s Broadband team: GetConnected@hpd.nyc.gov