By Mike Sunnucks | Rose Law Group Reporter
The city of Phoenix is considering spending $1.25 million to provide computer tablets to public housing residents with school-age children and to outfit free Wi-Fi internet connections outside city libraries, senior centers, and other buildings.
The effort aims to offer internet access to residents during COVID-19 which has closed schools, libraries and workplaces. The proposal is part of Phoenix’s response to pandemic.
City staff are asking the Phoenix City Council to approve $660,000 for the purchase of 800 tablets for public housing households with school-age children. The effort aims to help students with digital and virtual education programs and curriculum.
The Wi-Fi expansion will add free access at four recreation centers that do not have service now. It will install new antennas and Wi-Fi infrastructure on the roofs or exterior walls at 52 libraries, senior centers, and community centers across the city. That will allow residents to access the internet from parking lots and outside public facilities. The Council is being asked to approve a $590,000 expenditure for that effort. Cisco Systems would provide the new infrastructure, according to city documents.
If approved, Phoenix would hope to have the tables and increased Wi-Fi access deployed by August and the start of the next school year.
The City Council will be briefed on the proposal today.
