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Knight Foundation Invests in Detroit's Broadband Infrastructure

[Source: Knight Foundation, November 4, 2009] 

Knight Foundation believes that digital access is critical to thriving communities. The blue-ribbon Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy last month concluded that American democracy is threatened by the lack of equal access to quality information. Universal broadband access is key, it said, to meeting the information needs of America's communities.

To that end, the foundation is providing grants to:

  • Detroit Connected Community Initiative ($810,000): to increase high-speed Internet access to two large, low-income Detroit neighborhoods, Central-Woodward-Northend and Osborn-Northeast. Lead partners include The Community Telecommunications Network, Focus: HOPE, 4Cs/Family Place and Matrix Human Services.
  • Detroit Public Library ($866,000): To expand free Internet access to the public at the Parkman Branch library by building a new technology and literacy center. The library will be able to serve an additional 400 patrons a day with access to the Internet and an ever-growing range of activities including job searches and resume building.

“Digital access is essential to first class citizenship in our society.  Without digital, you lack full access to information, you are second class economically and even socially,” Ibargüen said. “If a job application at Walmart or McDonald’s must be made online, how can we pretend that we have equal opportunity when significant portions of our communities don’t have access?”

“Extending broadband access is one of several critical components to revitalizing Midtown and Detroit,” said Jay Noren, president of Wayne State University, a key member of the Community Telecommunications Network that is administering the project.

“By connecting the many participating stakeholders, this project will change lives, uplift
 neighborhoods and help move this great city forward,” Noren said.

The grants are part of an initiative to strengthen the Detroit’s creative sector, increase job training and expand public Internet access.  To learn more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.