ConnectHome was announced on July 15, 2015 as a step in the effort to increase access to high-speed Internet access for all Americans. The ConnectHome initiative was built on ConnectED, which aims to connect 99 percent of K-12 students to high-speed Internet in schools and libraries by 2018. ConnectHome will bring the opportunity for high-speed home Internet access to low-income families across the nation, including an estimated 350,000 residents.
Through public-private partnerships, nonprofits, businesses, and Internet service providers (ISPs) ConnectHome will offer high-speed Internet service, devices, technical training, and digital literacy programs to residents of HUD assisted housing to an additional 100 pilot communities, including Tribal and Rural HUD assisted households. To date, local government executives have already committed to reallocate local funds, leverage local programming, and use regulatory tools to support this initiative and the expansion of broadband access in low-income communities.
ConnectHome responds to an urgent need in our communities. As a recently released report from the Presidentâs Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) illustrates, some Americans are still unable to benefit from high-speed internet access, especially Americaâs lower-income children. The report highlights that while nearly two-thirds of households in the lowest-income quintile own a computer, less than half have a home internet subscription. While many middle-class U.S. students go home to Internet access, allowing them to do research, write papers, and communicate digitally with their teachers and other students, too many lower-income children go unplugged every afternoon when school ends. This âhomework gapâ runs the risk of widening the achievement gap, denying hardworking students the benefit of a technology-enriched education.
In the first phase of ConnectHome, HUD selected the twenty-seven cities and one tribal nation to participate in ConnectHome Pilot. HUD selected these communities through a competitive process that considered local commitment to expanding broadband opportunities; presence of place-based programs; and other factors to ensure all are well-positioned to deliver on ConnectHome:
Albany, GA; Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Baton Rouge, LA; Boston, MA; Camden, NJ; Choctaw Nation, OK; Cleveland, OH; Denver, CO; Durham, NC; Fresno, CA; Kansas City, MO; Little Rock, AR; Los Angeles, CA; Macon, GA; Memphis, TN; Meriden, CT; Nashville, TN; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Newark, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; Rockford, IL; San Antonio, TX; Seattle, WA; Springfield, MA; Tampa, FL; and Washington, DC.
HUD also took major steps to provide communities across the nation with tools to improve digital opportunity for its residents:
⢠Rulemaking that requires HUD-funded new residential construction and substantial rehabilitation projects to support broadband internet connectivity.
⢠Providing communities with the flexibility to spend portions of their Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grants on local broadband initiatives and associated connectivity enhancements, including approximately $150 million dedicated to the current competition.
⢠Rulemaking to include broadband planning as a component of the Consolidated Planning process, which serves as a framework for a community-wide dialogue to identify housing and municipal development priorities.
⢠Providing guidance and share best practices with HUD-funded grantees on how to more effectively utilize HUD funding to support broadband connectivity.
⢠Integrating digital literacy programming and access to technology into related initiatives.
The purpose of this data collection is to support 100 additional communities in the ConnectHome program by administering a two-step process: Enrollment and Quality Control and Assurance.
US Code:
12 USC 1701z-1
Name of Law: Research and Demonstrations
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
PTA ConnectHome Expansion_20160607 0910H (RH v.2)_20170628.JP.signed (002).pdf
ConnectHome Expansion PRA Supporting Statement Baseline Survey Part B_8-28-17.docx
Telephone Survey