FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel promotes digital equity in Detroit, Michigan

Federal, state and local leaders gathered May 16 to discuss improving digital equity in Detroit (MI), where a large portion of the population remains offline. The roundtable discussion held at Detroit's Cass Technical High School included Federal Communications Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, Michigan Lt Gov Garlin Gilchrist (D-MI), Detroit's Director of Digital Inclusion Joshua Edmonds, and Detroit Public School Community District educators and students. Their discussion focused on affordable internet access and the Affordable Connectivity Program. The Affordable Connectivity Program builds off the Emergency Connectivity Fund, which kicked off last year by providing a $50 a month subsidy that 82,000 Detroit households took advantage of, said Edmonds. Edmonds added Detroit is looking at the Hope Village neighborhood to build and deploy an open-access fiber network after 6,700 residents suffered a 45-day internet outage in 2021. Rosenworcel said to solve the digital divide, they must create affordability and ensure Michigan's infrastructure is able to deliver to city residents to rural residents. Gilchrist said of Michigan's $250 million infrastructure plan, a fraction of it is committed to building out more connectivity in targeted areas to support internet access. It includes a $5.2 million mapping project to determine where to deploy recourses.