HUD announces initiative to extend High Speed Broadband Access for Boston students in HUD-assisted housing

HUD and BHA collaborate on launching ConnectHome in 28 Communities Nationwide.

BOSTON – July 21, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Building on the Obama Administration’s goal to expand high speed broadband to all Americans, today, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development Harriet Tregoning joined Boston Housing Authority Administrator William McGonagle and City of Boston Chief Information Officer Jascha Franklin-Hodge to launch ConnectHome, an initiative to extend affordable broadband access to families living in HUD-assisted Boston housing. Through ConnectHome, Internet Service Providers, non-profits and the private sector will offer broadband access, technical training, digital literacy programs, and devices for residents in assisted housing units in 28 communities across the nation.

Since 2009, the private and public sectors have invested over $260 billion into new broadband infrastructure, and three in four Americans now use broadband at home. Despite this significant progress, one in four American families still don’t access the internet at home, particularly lower-income families with children. While nearly two-thirds of America’s lowest-income households own a computer, less than half have a home internet subscription. HUD’s ConnectHome initiative strives to ensure that students can access the same level of high-speed Internet at home that they possess in their classrooms.

“America’s challenge in this 21st century is to remain the world’s undisputed land of opportunity, said HUD Secretary Julián Castro. “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.”

The President and HUD Secretary Julián Castro announced yesterday that HUD has selected the following twenty-seven cities and one tribal nation to participate in ConnectHome:
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.

HUD selected these communities through a competitive process that took into account local commitment to expanding broadband opportunities; presence of place-based programs; and other factors to ensure all are well-positioned to deliver on ConnectHome.

“It is vital that all of our young people have dependable access to technology in order to excel in school and beyond” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “I thank the Obama Administration for this welcome addition to our efforts to increase opportunities for our low-income children throughout the city.”

HUD, is collaborating with EveryoneOn and US Ignite who worked with private- and public-sector leaders to build local partnerships and gather commitments that will increase access to the Internet for low-income Americans. These partnerships will bring broadband, technical assistance, and digital literacy training to students living in public and assisted housing across America.

Today’s announcement marks a major step in providing communities across the nation tools to improve digital opportunity for HUD-assisted housing residents. ConnectHome establishes a platform for collaboration between local governments, members of private industry, nonprofit organizations, and other interested entities to produce locally-tailored solutions for narrowing the digital divide.

“Providing Boston Housing Authority youth with greater access to educational tools through technology is so important in today’s world,” said BHA Administrator Bill McGonagle. “We look forward to getting to work with HUD and our private partners.”

Eight nationwide Internet Service Providers including; Google Fiber, Cherokee Communications, Pine Telephone, Suddenlink Communications, Vyve Broadband, CenturyLink, Cox Communications and Sprint have announced they are partnering with mayors, public housing authorities, non-profit groups, and for-profit entities to bridge the gap in digital access for students living in assisted housing units.

Skills training is essential to effectively taking advantage of all the Internet offers. HUD is collaborating with Best Buy, The James M. Cox Foundation, a Cox Communications-affiliated Foundation, GitHub, College Board, in partnership with Khan Academy, 80/20 Foundation, Age of Learning, Inc., The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), The American Library Association, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and the Durant Independent School District to offer new technical training and digital literacy programs for residents in assisted housing units.

HUD is also taking major steps to provide communities across the nation tools to improve digital opportunity for its residents. Yesterday, Secretary Castro announced that HUD will:
Begin rulemaking that requires HUD-funded new residential construction and substantial rehabilitation projects to support broadband internet connectivity.

Provide communities with the flexibility to spend portions of their Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grants on local broadband initiatives and associated connectivity enhancements, including approximately $150 million dedicated to the current competition.

Begin rulemaking to include broadband planning as a component of the Consolidated Planning process, which serves as a framework for a community-wide dialogue to identify housing and municipal development priorities.
Supply guidance and share best practices with HUD-funded grantees on how to more effectively utilize HUD funding to support broadband connectivity.
Integrate digital literacy programming and access to technology into related initiatives.

For more information and a complete listing of private sector commitments for ConnectHome please click here.