digital divide
“We want to connect as many families as possible to reliable internet access,” said Mayor Jim Kenney in announcing the outreach campaign. “As digital learning continues, access to high-speed internet is more important than ever.”
The $17 million PHLConnectED will offer Comcast Internet Essentials service to households with K-12 students for two years.
The Philadelphia-based cable giant was urged to open up more hotspots, increase internet speeds, and provide free access to low-income residents.
Some say the city and corporate players need to display more urgency.
Hite asks for delay after listening to more than 100 speakers, most of whom blasted the District's "hybrid" proposal, under which most students would attend two days a week.
The superintendent also said that service providers declined to increase internet access by opening residential hotspots for more general use.
Superintendent Hite says he will ask for Board of Education approval to buy 50,000 devices for Philly families that lack computers.
The focus this time is military veterans.
The city is launching a campaign to bring computer science to all students.