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Google Fiber pledges to bring free high-speed Internet to low-income families
Google announced on Wednesday that it would be giving low-income families free access to its incredibly fast Google Fiber Internet service. Specifically, the tech giant plans on providing free Fiber access to families living in public housing, starting with communities in Atlanta, Durham, Nashville and Kansas City.
Erica Swanson, head of Community Impact with Google Fiber, wrote on the Fiber blog:
The web is where we go to connect with people, learn new subjects, and find opportunities for personal and economic growth. But not everyone benefits from all the web has to offer. As many as 26% of households earning less than $30,000 per year don’t access the Internet, compared to just 3% of adults with annual incomes over $75,000. Google Fiber is working to change that. 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.
According to Swanson, the new Fiber offering is part of the ConnectHome program, an initiative created by the White House and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program is designed to “bring Internet connectivity to more school-aged children and families living in HUD-assisted housing.”
In addition to providing the free high-speed connection, Google will also be providing basic computer training for families.
Swanson wrote:
We realize, though, that providing an Internet connection is just one piece of the puzzle. People can only take advantage of the many benefits of the web when they understand why it matters and know how to use it. That’s why we’ll also partner with ConnectHome and local community groups to develop basic computer skills training and create computer labs to host these trainings in each of our Fiber markets.
Swanson noted that Google Fiber has previously provided services to people living in public housing through its work with Housing Authority of the City of Austin. She added that one public housing property saw 90 percent of residents register for Fiber service, and half completed the basic computer skills training course.
“With support from local organizations and city leaders,” Swanson wrote, “we hope to see this same kind of success across the country.”
Image credit: Google Fiber
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