Yesterday, the Housing Authority of the City of Austin and Google Fiber announced the launch of the the first so-called "digital inclusion program," that provides free Internet access to low-income residents. It's estimated to connect 4,300 affordable housing residents across the properties owned and operated by the housing authority.
"Closing the digital divide means that every child has a chance to succeed in the 21st century global economy," said U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro at an event yesterday.
“Getting to focus on housing as a platform for creating opportunity in people’s lives. So that if we have young folks who live in public or subsidized housing our charge is to ensure that they can get a great education," says Julián Castro.
Basic Internet connections in every housing authority residence will be available at no cost with for the next 10 years. The program will roll out across Austin over the next three years.
