HUD secretary touts broadband initiative in public housing

Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro touted President Barack Obama’s initiative to bring broadband Internet access to students living in public housing.

He spoke to students at Stratford High School in Nashville about the ConnectHome program that’s being rolled out in 28 communities around the country, including in Nashville and Memphis. “We cannot have a United States of America where only if you have some money do you have Internet access at home,” Sec Castro said. “We need to equip all of our young people, whether they’re rich or poor, with Internet access.” The program is meant to bridge a gap for students who can borrow computers and devices from their schools, but don’t have Internet access once they bring them home.