Obama launches project for more broadband in public housing
Source: Yahoo! News / Reuters
WASHINGTON/DURANT, Okla. (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama announced a pilot project on Wednesday aimed at expanding broadband access for people who live in public housing, part of an effort to close what Obama called the "digital divide" between rich and poor.
Eight Internet service providers, including Google Inc and Sprint Corp, have signed on to make the Internet cheaper and more accessible in 27 cities and the Choctaw Tribal Nation in Durant, Oklahoma.
Private and public institutions have pledged to invest $70 million in the plan. The federal government is only contributing $50,000, Julian Castro, the secretary of Housing and Urban Development, told reporters on a conference call.
The initiative will reach 275,000 households with almost 200,000 children.
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