Grant Program
BOLT
Grantee Name
Digital Harbor Foundation Inc
Grant Start Date
15 September 2023
Grant End Date
14 September 2024
Amount Funded
$300,000.00
City
Baltimore
Country
United States
Region
North America
OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
To address the digital divide, this project implements a state-of-the-art, fibre-optic deployment to deliver secure home Internet service to Baltimore residents, providing free Internet service to approximately 132 households. Using fiber-to-the-premise connectivity paired with a Gigabit Access Multiplexer (GAM) device, gigabit-speed services are provided to low-income housing tenants using existing coaxial cable terminated in each unit. At the in-unit coaxial hookup, a coax-to-gigabit bridge device is connected to a home router. The home router provides each tenant with a unique IP address and SSID, allowing individual households to connect securely and to network household devices in a private/secure environment.
This project also directly benefits residents aged 50 and over by distributing laptops to residents. Six Digital Skills and Device Orientation events are hosted for the residents, as the project seeks to provide support to ensure that residents can successfully use and enjoy all the capabilities of the new laptops to the fullest.
WHY IS THIS PROJECT IMPORTANT?
One in four Maryland households lacks home Internet service. In Baltimore City specifically, 96,000 residential households remain disconnected from the affordable broadband services they need and deserve. Internet connectivity gaps are concentrated in high-poverty areas, leaving communities with few options to become and remain connected.
By providing free access to high-speed Internet, which is no longer a luxury but a critical public infrastructure, individuals and families that are facing economic hardship, including individuals with disabilities, veterans and senior members of the community, can access the resources necessary to succeed in today’s digital world.
Providing access to devices, the project pairs connectivity with wi-fi-enabled devices and reduces the barrier of device access for new customers. This combined approach to connectivity allows communities to connect more effectively and efficiently, as well as provides them with the resources and supportive services they need to use the Internet.
MEDIA AND PUBLICATIONS
See below for publications and other articles related to the project.
https://technical.ly/civic-news/project-waves-enterprise-community-development-free-internet/