Detroiters living in areas that traditionally have no or slow access to the internet will soon be able to choose cheap high-speed connections, a new partnership aimed at creating digital equity said this week.
The best part? It will only cost $10 per family and require no contract.
The move to install better infrastructure and connect houses comes from a collaboration between Equitable Internet Initiative (EII) and local tech hub Michigan Central.
The Southwest Equitable Internet Initiative aims to link up Southwest Detroit first, starting in Corktown, and hopes to add 200 households a year.
“We believe the internet should be a public good that uplifts communities, not leave them behind,” said Aldo Medina, EII Digital Technician, in a statement.
The partnership will do that by installing new wifi equipment at the top of Michigan Central’s tallest building, The Station, which will boost the signal and create reliable internet for 4,500 households in nearby neighborhoods.
In addition, it will shore up Detroit’s readiness for disasters, with built-in infrastructure designed to stay online during emergencies or power outages so that people can be connected and in touch.
“Access to the internet is a fundamental need in today’s economy, and through our partnership with EII, we’re ensuring that Southwest Detroit residents have the tools they need to thrive,” Cornetta Lane-Smith, Director of Community Engagement at Michigan Central, said in a statement.
Interested? Apply here to be one of the households added when it comes to your neighborhood.
