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By 7News
Tuesday, July 13th 2021
Washington, D.C. (7News) — A $7.17 billion federal program has been rolled out in an effort to get more students access to a quality internet connection in the DMV. Regional nonprofit Connected DMV’s “Connectivity for All” initiative, is focused on driving community enrollment in the Federal Communication Commission's two new connectivity financial assistance programs and commits to helping to provide affordable internet, a computing device and digital literacy with the help of local organizations throughout the DMV including Mayor Muriel Bowser.
The Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) will help students connect to classrooms with internet access and computing devices by giving eligible schools and libraries the funds to cover it. Registration is open and ends August 13th.
Stu Solomon, President & CEO of Connected DMV "part of our region has ready access and part of our region does not which means it's a tale of two cities here in Washington." "Many are getting left further behind in this pandemic," Solomon explained. "Not only are they not catching up but the digital gap is getting bigger."
Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), a $3.2 billion program designed to help households struggling to afford internet during the pandemic by providing financial discounts for the purchase of broadband service and an internet device.
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