A Public Housing Digital Inclusion Blueprint

At least 100,000 San Francisco residents lack adequate Internet access and miss out on economic and educational benefits. A new model -- developed by Monkeybrains, a local Internet service provider (ISP), and the city of San Francisco -- successfully bridges this digital divide for public housing residents. Thanks to low start-up and maintenance costs, the solution will be financially self-sustaining for years to come. If you want to get a program like this going in your city, here are key points:

• Find a local champion—someone who either understands this technology or is excited to dive into it and immerse themselves in best practices.
• Find good partners with the right incentives. Some ISPs will be enthusiastic about projects like these, while others (from small to large) may pass. Understand what motivates your potential partner.
• Research funding options: Plenty of states have created programs to subsidize Internet access but few are available for urban residents. Consider reaching out to foundations and explain that smart one-time expenditures can create ongoing self-sustaining high-quality Internet access.