BOSTON - Wednesday,
Sept. 1, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey, in partnership with the City’s Department
of Innovation & Technology, today announced a partnership to document
the availability, cost and quality of broadband internet services in
Boston. The State of Broadband Equity in Boston report will identify
broadband offerings by neighborhood and identify any service opportunities
or disparities within the city.
“The last 18 months
have underscored that internet access is a public good. In those
places where high quality broadband has been affordable and accessible, it
has helped youth stay engaged in school, grandparents connect with their
grandchildren, and employees remain productive while apart,” said Mayor Kim
Janey. “I want to ensure that every resident - regardless of zip
code, age or income - has access to quality choices to get online.”
This will be the
City’s first report on the State of Broadband Equity in Boston. Mayor Janey
has requested broadband internet companies provide their service and
pricing data by neighborhood to inform the report, which will be developed
in partnership with CTC Technology & Energy, a consultancy with
expertise in public technology strategy. As part of the study, CTC
will document residential internet options across the city, including their
terms and upload and download speeds. The City and CTC will launch a
website that the public can use to share ideas and check the speed of their
internet service. CTC will use this data to document the quality of
internet service in Boston, the nature of Boston’s digital divide, and make
recommendations about how service can be improved in the City. It is
expected that the report will be completed in six months.
“The City has made
significant investments to bring public services online, from community
meetings to City permitting to public notices. This summer, we also invested
nearly $500,000 in nonprofit organizations to increase digital equity,”
said David Elges, the City of Boston’s Chief Information Officer.
“This report will help us identify how and where it is best to invest those
funds to close the digital divide.”
This report will
build on the work of and update the digital equity report prepared for the
Boston Human Rights Commission. This previous report highlighted gaps
in services that Boston residents experience.
Digital Equity
Investments and Listening Session Today
In addition to
commissioning the State of Broadband Equity in Boston report, Mayor Janey
has made significant investments in digital equity and has scheduled a
listening session on the issue, as part of the Let’s Go Better campaign to prioritize
the City’s American Rescue Plan Act spending.
The City has also
invested over $15 million in digital resources during the COVID-19 pandemic
that have:
·
Distributed
7,500 devices to residents and families in need,
·
Began
distributing 3,500 annual subscriptions of Internet Essentials to
households,
·
Supported
digital training and skills development through a network of dedicated
non-profits, and
·
Strengthened
the City's internet network and connectivity.
A public listening session today at 5:30PM will focus on resident ideas
and concerns on digital equity that can be addressed using American Rescue
Plan Act (ARPA) funds. In addition, the City plans to hire a Digital Equity
& Inclusion Advocate to help guide grant rounds for the City’s Digital Equity Fund.
Boston is committed
to bringing more equity and choice to residents throughout every
neighborhood through the Digital Equity Fund; bringing Wi-Fi hotspots to
the Boston Public Library's lending program; growing Boston's Wicked Free
Wi-Fi program; and working to protect Net Neutrality rules that ensure a
fair and open internet. All of these efforts aim to make the internet
affordable and accessible for all Boston residents.
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