LinkNYC teamed up with Digital Girl, Inc. and Fix It With Piggy to bring over a dozen high school students from The Bronx and Brooklyn together on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at Brooklyn’s Gigabit Center in Crown Heights, which provides for hands-on training in “fiber optic cable splicing,” smartphone repair, and other in-demand technical skills. The Center is managed in partnership with NYC Office of Technology & Innovation.

 

According to GoMultilink.com, fiber optic cable splicing is the act of joining two fiber optic cables. In instances where a single cable is not long enough for an application, splicing allows technicians to extend it for the required run. Splicing can also be helpful when fiber optic cables need restoration, or they’ve broken during an installation.

 

According to LinkNYC, it is the world’s largest and fastest, free, public Wi-Fi network. Each Link kiosk provides free, superfast Wi-Fi, phone calls, device charging, access to social services, and displays content including real-time weather, transit info, public art, and local information.

 

Meanwhile, Digital Girl, Inc. is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that prepares young people, particularly girls and students from underserved communities, for careers in Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM). Finally, Fix It With Piggy is a Bronx-based community technology hub providing young people with training and work-based learning opportunities in device repair and other technology fields.

 

Gigabit Centers are located in all five boroughs and are powered by LinkNYC Wi-Fi, in partnership with the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation. Each center offers technology training, access to laptops and tablets, and other vital community services to the public for free.

At the Brooklyn event, NYC Chief Technology Officer and Office of Technology & Innovation Commissioner Lisa Gelobter joined LinkNYC, Digital Girl, Inc., and Fix It With Piggy to speak with students about opportunities in New York City’s growing technology sector. 

 

Later, Nicole Robinson-Etienne, senior director of external affairs for LinkNYC, said of the event, “By partnering with organizations like Digital Girl, Inc. and Fix It With Piggy, we’re helping students gain hands-on experience with the technologies shaping today’s economy while connecting them with pathways to future careers.”

 

She added, “LinkNYC is committed to ensuring young New Yorkers have access to the skills and opportunities needed to succeed in our city’s growing technology workforce.”

 

Throughout the day, students rotated through interactive workshops, learning skills while receiving “expert-led instruction” in fiber optic splicing and smartphone repair from instructors and mentors.

 

According to Gomultilink.com, cable splicing exists across industries. If a sector uses fiber optic cable, splicing likely makes an appearance. Some of these industries include:

• Automotive: Fiber optic cables quickly transmit signals, making them ideal for vehicle safety features like air
• Medical: Many advanced medical tools allow surgeons and doctors to perform advanced procedures and care for patients more effectively. Technology like endoscopes, X-ray systems and more rely on fiber optic cables to function.
• Telecommunications: Optical cables form a vast network around the world to connect people to one another. Phone calls, video and data can move through fiber optic cables, making mass communication possible. Splicing is a necessity to maintain telecom networks.
• Computer networking: A Local Area Network (LAN) relies on fiber optic cables to connect computers in a defined location. These networks are common in office buildings, universities, laboratories and residential areas.

Organizers of the event said the summer learning program was supported by Digital Girl, Inc., and Fix It With Piggy and is among several initiatives led by LinkNYC, the NYC Office of Technology & Innovation, and their community partners to provide young New Yorkers with practical, workforce-ready skills through real-world technology training.

 

According to LinkNYC, the free Wi-Fi network has more than 21 million Wi-Fi users, and has connected more than 35 million free phone calls. All of LinkNYC’s services are completely free to users and taxpayers, through CityBridge, a joint venture led by Intersection Media and Boldyn Networks.

 

According to LinkNYC, a second generation offering will deploy thousands of new kiosks, called Link5G, enabled with 5G wireless technology across the city. For more information about LinkNYC or to find a Link near you, visit www.link.nyc.

 

In April this year, as reported, Bronx youth participating in Good Shepherd Services’ (GSS) family foster care program got some welcome news as the nonprofit, in collaboration with AT&T, unveiled a new computer lab at its University Heights center at 7 West Burnside Avenue, expanding internet and connected technology access to an underserved community.