Cleveland is the 9th worse city in the U.S. when it comes to the number of homes connected to the internet. About 56-thousand households in Cleveland don't have internet access according to the National Digital Inclusion Alliance.
As ideastream's Darrielle Snipes reports a new federal initiative is working to bring WI-FI and tablets to low-income children.
ConnectHome is a federal public/private initiative working with 28 communities across the country including Cleveland.
Through the local partner initiative, Cleveland Connects the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority is working to close the digital divide by partnering with several companies including GitHub, a software developer company based out of San Fransico and communications company Sprint. They both have agreed to donate 350 tablets and Wi Fi hot spots.
CMHA planning coordinator Juleian Curtis says these devices will help these children learn the necessary computer skills to be completive at school.
"The major overarching goal of the incentive to have student available to connect to the internet in their homes to complete their homework assignments, to further their education and to help them educate themselves to become more like developers of technology as appose to users," said Curtis. "So, the Wi-Fi device gives them access to the internet freely in their homes."
Curtis says the devices will be handed out to children participating patriating in CMHA after school programs. They'll also receive some training.