Google will provide free high-speed Internet to low-income families via ConnectHome

Google will provide free high-speed Internet to low-income families via ConnectHome, a White House initiative. With ConnectHome, residents in 27 cities and one tribal nation will receive broadband access to the Internet. The main goal: to connect “99 percent of K-12 students to high-speed Internet in their classrooms and libraries over the next five years.”

Three ISPs (Sprint, CenturyLink, Cox Communications) will provide high-speed access at affordable prices to communities in Albany, GA; Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Baton Rouge, LA; Boston, MA; Camden, NJ; Choctaw Nation, OK; Cleveland, OH; Denver, CO; Durham, NC; Fresno, CA; Kansas City, MO; Little Rock, AR; Los Angeles, CA; Macon, GA; Memphis, TN; Meriden, CT; Nashville, TN; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Newark, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; Rockford, IL; San Antonio, TX; Seattle, WA; Springfield, MA; Tampa, FL; and Washington, DC. Meanwhile, Cherokee Communications, Pine Telephone, Suddenlink Communications, and Vyve Broadband will provide low-cost, high-speed access to specific communities of the Choctaw Tribal Nation.

Google will offer free broadband in communities where Fiber is offered “to residents in select public housing authority properties.”

In today’s education, all children need adequate access to the Internet, however, children in low-income families are unable to access the Internet to take advantage of educational resources online, which creates and extends the so-called “homework gap.” Overall, more than 275,000 households will finally receive access to the Internet with almost 200,000 children.

Many other companies and organizations will also contribute in various ways to teach low-income families necessary computer and Internet skills.

HUD Secretary Julián Castro said: “America’s challenge in this 21st century is to remain the world’s undisputed land of opportunity. By expanding broadband adoption, ConnectHome will provide more Americans with the same high-speed access to knowledge and opportunity that millions of people already enjoy.”

[Sources]: White House: FACT SHEET: ConnectHome: Coming Together to Ensure Digital Opportunity for All Americans; ConnectHome.