Philadelphia is on track toward meeting its broadband goals. That’s the latest news from the city’s broadband infrastructure and digital inclusion manager, Juliet Fink Yates, who presented an update during the Fiber Broadband Association’s Wednesday, May 28, edition of Fiber for Breakfast.
Yates is overseeing a Philly Free Wi-Fi initiative, a two-year arrangement with Verizon to connect 180 parks and recreation sites to high-speed internet.
“We are moving along really quickly,” Yates said in comments shared by Broadband Breakfast. “The fiber has been installed. The Wi-Fi is working. You can go and get that Wi-Fi on your phone if you need it.”
Philly Free Wi-Fi has locator maps that indicate the active hot spots in the area where Wi-Fi will be strongest.
Philly Free Wi-Fi complements another effort, the PHL ConnectED initiative. This project provided free subsidized internet connections through Internet Essentials and hot spots through T-Mobile during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following some hiccups in rolling out the initiative, the city has expanded its digital navigator program. Teams now offer one-on-one technical support to help residents through setup and troubleshooting to access the Wi-Fi.
“Philadelphia has the infrastructure. We are going to look like we are served,” Yates said, “and yet 14.7% of Philadelphia households still have no internet subscription in the home.” She further noted that 25% of households also don’t have a desktop or laptop in the home.
Yates underscored the need for residents to have a reliable internet connection and internet-accessible devices. She explained that her team is helping educate the public about how access to the internet is key to getting employed, performing well in school, and moving beyond dependence on a single smartphone.
