DC to bridge digital divide with free internet for low-income students

[IronLionZion]

https://wtop.com/dc/2020/09/new-dc-initiative-to-provide-low-income-students-with-free-internet-access/

D.C. started a $3.3 million initiative to bridge the digital divide and make sure low-income students have access to free internet now that schools are online virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic.

A strong internet connection is a vital component to making virtual learning a success, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said in launching the Internet for All initiative. Its goal is to provide free internet access for as many as 25,000 low-income students who attend D.C. Public Schools and the city’s public charter schools.

“During this virtual school term, we know how critical it is for all of our students to have internet access to successfully learn at home and stay connected to their teachers outside of the classroom,” Bowser said in a news release.

“This investment continues our commitment not only to supporting families during virtual school term, but also to building a more digitally inclusive D.C. in the long-term,” Bowser said.

The initiative will make broadband available to students at home. Broadband is more reliable and powerful than mobile MiFi devices or cellular connections. It will come into homes through Comcast’s Internet Essentials and RCN’s Internet First programs.

This is an important issue when everything is done online these days.

[procon]

1. All cities and towns should supply Wi-Fi connections

at no charge as a built in part of their community public services and other public infrastructure services. Municipalities provide safe streets and sidewalks, streetlights, parks and playgrounds, bike lanes, jogging trails, libraries, 911 responders, dog parks, campgrounds, fishing spots, and many other amenities for their residents.

In this digital age, a Wi-Fi connection is necessary to our daily lives for almost everything we do. Especially in the time of this pandemic, it becomes critical to our healthy and safety

[IronLionZion]

2. Internet is an essential utility in the modern economy

And it really leaves a lot of people behind if they can't afford access.

[procon]

3. The other half of the problem is providing connections

to rural towns and outlying homes. Satellite connections are expensive (mine runs $77 per mo), so most people in my little community don't have internet service. Trump killed a bill that would have made it cheaper for rural areas to get connected.

[IronLionZion]

4. Trump's screwing of rural America needs to be more widely advertised in swing states

Biden's plan is to invest $20 billion in rural broadband

https://joebiden.com/rural-plan/

[procon]

5. Thanks! I didn't know that either.

I know a few local Trump fans who might need to know this.

[IronLionZion]

6. More voters need to know how Biden/Harris has their back

since the other candidates are stabbing Americans in the back. They've had 4 years to create jobs in rural America. Ask people how that's working out.