President Obama and HUD Sec Castro Announce Initiative to Extend High Speed Broadband Access for Students in HUD-Assisted Housing

Building on the Obama Administration’s goal to expand high speed broadband to all Americans, President Barack Obama and US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro announced ConnectHome, an initiative to extend affordable broadband access to families living in HUD-assisted housing. Through ConnectHome, Internet Service Providers, non-profits and the private sector will offer broadband access, technical training, digital literacy programs, and devices for residents in assisted housing units in 28 communities across the nation. HUD’s ConnectHome initiative strives to ensure that students can access the same level of high-speed Internet at home that they possess in their classrooms.

The President and HUD Secretary Julián Castro announced that HUD has selected the following twenty-seven cities and one tribal nation to participate in ConnectHome: Albany (GA); Atlanta (GA); Baltimore (MD); Baton Rouge (LA); Boston (MA); Camden (NJ); Choctaw Nation (OK); Cleveland (OH); Denver (CO); Durham (NC); Fresno (CA); Kansas City (MO); Little Rock (AR); Los Angeles (CA); Macon (GA); Memphis (TN); Meriden (CT); Nashville (TN); New Orleans (LA); New York (NY); Newark (NJ); Philadelphia (PA); Rockford (IL); San Antonio (TX); Seattle (WA); Springfield (MA); Tampa (FL); and Washington (DC). HUD selected these communities through a competitive process that took into account local commitment to expanding broadband opportunities; presence of place-based programs; and other factors to ensure all are well-positioned to deliver on ConnectHome. The announcement marks a major step in providing communities across the nation tools to improve digital opportunity for HUD-assisted housing residents. ConnectHome establishes a platform for collaboration between local governments, members of private industry, nonprofit organizations, and other interested entities to produce locally-tailored solutions for narrowing the digital divide.