Posted: Jan. 4, 2010
Internet effort aims to get more Detroiters connected

BY GINA DAMRON and NAOMI R. PATTON
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS


Access to high-speed Internet means access to education, access to job opportunities, access to the world.

And by the end of this year, thousands of low-income Detroit residents could gain access to those things through an initiative to connect targeted areas with wireless broadband Internet service.

The Detroit Connected Community Initiative project -- mainly funded by an $800,000 grant awarded from the Knight Foundation in November -- is expected to develop a broadband infrastructure in three areas within Detroit's Midtown-Northend and Osborn-Northeast areas.

Patrick Gossman, executive director of the Community Telecommunications Network and Wayne State University's deputy chief information officer, said the number of Detroiters with access to broadband or wireless Internet in most areas of the city is less than 40%. Some residents have computers, he said, but only slow dial-up Internet service.

"Not being connected in the digital age, really, is a huge disadvantage," Gossman said Sunday.

"If we can't get Detroit connected, I think we're going to have a much harder time getting Detroit out of its economic slump. If we can't up education, up job training, we're not going to break that cycle."

To help provide the Web access in neighborhoods, CTN is partnering with 4C's Family Place, Focus: HOPE and Matrix Human Services.

Gossman said the initial effort could provide wireless access to more than 4,000 residents, including an existing network around 4C's Family Place that now serves about 80 residents. The goal, he said, is also to have computer labs for training on how to use the Web.

The service will be free, at least initially. CTN is also adding $100,000 to the initiative and working to get federal grants to help get computers for residents.

Anthony Semanik, project manager for government and public affairs for Focus: HOPE, said Internet access is crucial.

"Internet access should be in a category with public telephone," Semanik said. "It should be part of the infrastructure."
http://freep.com/article/20100104/NE...ters-connected

The italicized part is interesting.