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High Speed Internet and Computers to Underserved Neighborhoods

The “Digital Divide” is a challenge that affects many of our citizens.  It is a barrier to people having affordable internet access.  This affects people in their everyday lives.  Children may not have sufficient access for their school and study needs, adults may have difficulty applying for jobs, doing on-line banking, scheduling doctor’s appointments, communicating with friends and relatives, or performing a host of other functions that many take for granted. Most internet providers require bundling internet access with phone and TV service.  The monthly cost can quickly leap well beyond $100/month.
 
The digital divide is a social and cultural divide.  It creates a gap, a loss of opportunity, loss of achievement potential and a loss of equity, between those with resources and those without.  It creates a DIVIDE between citizens.
 
City leaders, managers, staff and others recognize this issue. The Common Council established the Digital Technology Committee (DTC) to address this need as well as the larger broadband access issue.  One of the initiatives from this is the Digital Divide Pilot Project.  Alders, staff and citizen members worked together to devise and fund a pilot project to help underserved neighborhoods.  A Request for Proposal was released and the resulting product is Connecting Madison.
 
This effort will make affordable internet access available to residents for as little as $9.99/month.  The areas included in the pilot are:
 

  • Allied Drive
  • Darbo Worthington
  • Brentwood
  • Kennedy Heights Apts.

 
Mayor Soglin was joined today by City Information Technology Director Paul Kronberger, local funders, officials from: DaneNet, Cascade Asset Management and ResTech, City Alders and residents from the Allied Drive Neighborhood to discuss specifics of Connecting Madison.  The four city pilot areas to benefit from this program will be able to obtain internet service, donated refurbished computers for qualified residents, and digital literacy training for residents.  Please see the following link for additional information:
 
 http://www.cityofmadison.com/information-technology/initiatives/digital-equity
 
 

Contacts

Area: 
North, South, West
Seasonal: 
Spring/Summer, Fall, Winter