Sacramento Region Community Foundation

Sacramento Region Community Foundation (SRCF)

The Digital Inclusion Initiative aims to bridge Sacramento’s digital divide within all of its socio-economically diverse communities. Through successful advocacy and partnership with local nonprofits, the Sacramento Region Community Foundation (SRCF) has been able to provide crucial guidance to ensure the needs of the city’s underserved communities are met. SRCF and a coalition of nonprofits advocated on behalf of the city’s underserved communities, urging stronger community benefits in the contract. Last June, city council approved a resolution to deploy a municipal wireless network. This means that Sacramento will become one of the largest municipal Wi-Fi networks in the country, effectively covering 90 square miles with a potential reach of 400,000 users. Entering the second phase of the initiative, SRCF will build a pilot project wireless network at Estates/Victory Townhomes, a multi-family housing community. This demonstration site will provide training, internet access and low cost equipment, reflective of residential needs.

The city’s goal is to bridge Sacramento’s “digital divide” within all of its socio-economically diverse communities, thereby:

• Enabling all residents to use the Internet to access job, education, healthcare, and government services.

• Enabling all residents to use digital technologies to better express their viewpoints and participate in civic and community affairs.

• Enabling all residents to participate more fully in the global information economy and society.

• Enabling all Sacramento businesses, community-based organizations, and government agencies to more fully utilize the pool of local peoples and talents that are more educated and technologically experienced.

Universal Internet access is essential to connect all Sacramento residents to the social, educational, informational, and economic opportunities they need to succeed in the increasingly competitive local, national, and international economies of the 21st century.

This city’s Digital Inclusion Initiative will provide Sacramentans the opportunity to take advantage of this century’s digital opportunities by connecting them with Internet access at home and work. A thoughtful digital inclusion initiative is essential to ensure that all residents benefit from the city’s planned wireless network. The provisions of free and affordable Internet access will go a long way to address the connectivity needs of underserved communities.

These communities include, but are not limited to, low-income residents, limited English speaking, and disabled populations. However, not all residents have a computer and the skills to access the Internet. Therefore, the city plans go beyond infrastructure access through culturally sensitive outreach and address other technology barriers such as: computer hardware and software, technology training and support, and the creation of relevant, local, and culturally-competent content.