HUD Broadband Demonstration Program Receives Mostly Warm Response
Austin, Buffalo, Chattanooga, Los Angeles, Oakland and others including Qualcomm expressed interest in a Department of Housing and Urban Development broadband initiative to help low-income students and their families narrow the digital divide. The department plans to select about 20…
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HUD-assisted communities to participate in “digital opportunity demonstrations” aimed at improving tenants’ educational performance and economic outcomes through better Internet access. HUD hasn’t specified a project budget or timetable, but is seeking to stimulate public-private collaboration to boost broadband adoption and use, and at some point is expected to formally invite applications. In comments that were due Friday and posted this week, various localities and others voiced general enthusiasm for the initiative, with a few concerns sprinkled in. Chattanooga and related institutions filed the most extensive comments, noting their broadband efforts, including the 9,000-mile fiber network built out by EPB, the municipal electric power distributor. As of April, the city said, over 5,000 homes were using EPB’s $70/month gigabit offering, and “tens of thousands” were subscribed to its $58/month Mbps offering, with a new $27/month 100 Mbps offering just announced for families with students qualifying for free or discounted school lunches. Qualcomm was the only industry party to comment, saying it wanted to participate in the program to help close a growing “Homework Gap” between students with good Internet access at home and those without it (see 1505070013">1505070013). “We hear too many stories of students sitting on their school steps late at night in order to complete and submit homework assignments as well as stories of parents having to drive to a local fast food restaurant late at night so their child can access the Internet,” Qualcomm said. It urged HUD to look to provide low-income students with mobile devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets) with embedded connectivity to give them 24/7 access. Some commenters voiced concerns the HUD section criteria were too restrictive, including that communities already be participating in two or more federal “place-based” initiatives. Oakland said it wouldn’t be able to participate in the digital demonstration unless changes are made. The National Housing Conference said the initiative should do more to focus on rural areas to “avoid an unintended bias toward urban communities.”