In America’s tech capital, tens of thousands go without home Internet. Here’s how San Francisco wants to fix it.

Despite being awash in tech start-ups and the latest innovations, San Francisco has a surprising lack of connectivity. As many as 1 in 8 people  — more than 100,000 residents — don’t subscribe to home Internet, city officials say. To close that digital divide, the local government has come up with an entrepreneurial solution: Build a high-speed network of its own that could compete with the likes of AT&T and Comcast. If the estimated $1.9 billion proposal is approved, San Francisco would become the biggest U.S. city to undertake a project that would turn high-speed Internet access into a kind of public utility — and set an example for others across the country. The core question for San Francisco policymakers is whether competitive broadband service is a luxury — or a necessity that's as essential as public transportation or homeless shelters. 

Supporters say a city-owned Internet service could have a profound impact on life in San Francisco: Lowering broadband costs for everyone because of increased competition and, in particular, helping the poor connect to job opportunities, education and city services. But the initiative has been wildly divisive, drawing opposition from both powerful Internet service providers and other city leaders who question whether spending money on Internet access is as important as providing more affordable housing.