WASHINGTON – A new White House initiative called ConnectHome aims to get Americans with low incomes connected to high-speed internet.
President Barack Obama says young Americans without high-speed Internet are being denied the critical tech skills they need to succeed in the modern economy.
The pilot program will provide high-speed Internet and digital devices to more families at a lower cost.
Obama says the U.S. is at risk of falling behind countries like South Korea. He says that’s “unthinkable” considering that many Internet technologies were developed in the U.S.
The president says all American students should have Internet access regardless of ability to pay.
The initiative is already making strides in Nashville.
Jamie Berry, with the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency told WKRN News 2 more than 5,500 families that live in 20 public housing properties in Nashville will receive free Google Fiber.
“This is going to provide too many opportunities for them. I talked to a resident at Cheatham Place who actually told me that if she was selected as a family to get this service, she would get her GED and possibly continue to more education,” said Berry.
Berry said the project is still in its early stages, so she doesn’t know at this time how long the families will receive the free service or when they will get it.
To learn more about ConnectHome, visit WhiteHouse.gov.