Google is helping US President Barack Obama’s new ConnectHome plan to bridge the “homework gap”by getting in-home broadband access to the homes of 200,000 low income students, including some in rural and on Native American reservations.
Google Fiber will do its part by wiring select public housing and low-income homes and communities for FREE! It will be done,however, in those cities where Google Fiber is available already now: Kansas City; Provo, Utah; and Austin, Texas.
“Today, in all of our Google Fiber markets, we’re launching a program to connect residents in select public and affordable housing properties for $0/month with no installation fee,” Google officially announced on its Fiber blog Thursday:
The income gap refers to the dilemma happening with students without broadband access because their parents cannot afford it. They are forced to go to cafes, restaurants and other public venues like libraries with free Wi-Fi access to connect.
“The Internet is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. You cannot connect with today’s economy without access to the Internet,” Obama said at an event at Oklahoma’s Indian country. “Even old folks like me know it’s important.”
The homework gap is also a passion and interest for Federal Communications Commission commissioner Jessica Rocenworcel who has spoken about it nationwide at various events.
During a recent speech at the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council‘s annual Access to Capital conference, Rocenworcel shared a story about how one local restaurant owner said he knew when the local schools were having finals by the increase in students that would be camped out with their laptops during their homework.
“And those who could not afford” to purchase something would sit on the sidewalk outside the restaurant so they can still get the benefit of the Wi-Fi, Rocenworcel shared. “And their parents would be the ones dropping them off.”
Google is joined by Best Buy, Cox, Century Link and Sprint, who will also contribute towards the initiative.
In addition, Google will implement a digital literacy program to help those without basic computer skills.
h/t AOL
