San Jose launches new fund to bring internet to thousands of off-line homes

San Jose (CA) created the San Jose Digital Inclusion Fund — the largest of its kind in the country. The aim? To bring broadband access to some 50,000 households over the next decade and teach residents who may be new to the web the digital skills they need to navigate it. The city estimates that, even today, around 95,000 residents have no internet access at home. For seniors, the initiative might mean learning how to navigate a health care website that allows them to talk to their doctor more easily. For students, it might mean the ability to file a homework assignment or apply for a job online without having to trek to a library, Starbucks parking lot or someplace else with free wireless. Longterm, the city wants to close what Mayor Sam Liccardo called a “palpable” digital divide — a divide that puts the opportunities Silicon Valley has to offer out of reach for many residents. As Google and other tech giants look to San Jose to grow their businesses, the city wants to produce students and young people capable of filling new jobs.