Staff Reports | Community Updates
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is recommending the city of Phoenix for an $11.8 million Digital Equity Competitive Grant to help bring internet access to low-income families.
The grant resulted from a collaborative effort involving the Housing, Human Services, and Library Departments to address the community’s digital equity needs, according to a press release.
“The city of Phoenix is thrilled to receive the Digital Equity Competitive Grant. The funding will enhance access to essential services and digital opportunities for Phoenix residents by expanding high-speed internet to more than 5,400 households, including affordable and senior housing,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, in a prepared statement. “The grant will also fund initiatives like digital literacy training, broadband career training, free home Wi-Fi and device distribution that will bridge the digital divide and equip our community with the skills and resources needed to thrive in the digital age.”
The Housing Department’s digital literacy training will help residents navigate the internet for education, healthcare, employment, and social connectivity, officials at City Hall tell the Digital Free Press.
The grant will also fund the establishment of a community Wi-Fi network in the Edison-Eastlake Choice Neighborhoods Community, ensuring connectivity for 1,165 households, the release states.
The Human Services Department will utilize the grant to provide broadband training and devices to enhance workforce participation, senior telehealth training, and virtual reality tools used to improve seniors’ social engagement. The Library Department will distribute 700 5G mobile hotspots to underserved communities, further enhancing digital access.
