Culture Wireless is on a mission to bring affordable internet, better coverage, and community ownership to places that need it most.<\/p>\n
When the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) rescinded millions in federal broadband funds, it threatened to leave Georgia\u2019s underserved communities further behind, according to<\/a> The Current. For Culture Wireless, a Black-owned internet provider<\/a> co-founded by William \u201cBam\u201d Sparks (chief marketing officer), the impact was deeply personal.<\/p>\n \u201cPersonally, it affects me because it hinders people in my community from having access,\u201d Sparks told AFROTECH\u2122 in an interview. \u201cThe government doesn\u2019t understand how deeply it impacts certain neighborhoods, especially on the west side of Atlanta, where there\u2019s a digital red line and limited access to basic tools.\u201d<\/p>\n For Sparks, the funding cuts weren\u2019t just setbacks \u2014 they sparked a renewed drive to build solutions beyond traditional telecom and government efforts. Culture Wireless was created to close this digital divide with fellow co-founders Al Adjahoe (CEO) and Jerome Howard (chief operating officer).<\/p>\n Building What The Government Didn\u2019t<\/p>\n The DOGE funding cuts did more than change policy. They pulled the plug on real people\u2019s futures, Sparks says. Across Georgia, many communities depended on federal dollars for broadband, better cell coverage, and cybersecurity. McIntosh County, where one-third of residents are Black, was among them, per<\/a> Data USA.<\/p>\n \u201cThat program was going to help families and certain communities afford devices, digital literacy tools, and internet bills,\u201d Sparks said. \u201cSo, it\u2019s unfortunate.\u201d<\/p>\n Beyond his ties to Atlanta, Sparks sees national implications. \u201cIt hurts the entire country because we\u2019re behind as far as digital development goes,\u201d he said. \u201cEvery day, I feel like there\u2019s a new AI tool or advancement \u2014 and if we don\u2019t have the resources to prepare ourselves, then we\u2019re just going to put ourselves further behind.\u201d<\/p>\n Culture Wireless was born from that urgency. While attending an esports event at Atlanta University Center, Sparks realized that many students, despite being surrounded by fiber lines, still couldn\u2019t afford to connect. That insight sparked a larger mission: create a telecom solution that centers underserved communities.<\/a><\/p>\n In 2023, the company became the internet service provider for the Atlanta BeltLine,<\/a> providing free or low-cost connectivity along the 22-mile trail system, according to<\/a> the Atlanta Voice. \u201cOur mission is to provide access for everyone,\u201d Sparks said. \u201cWe want to put our community first.\u201d<\/p>\n Community-Funded Connectivity<\/p>\n Culture Wireless isn\u2019t just connecting people \u2014 it\u2019s inviting them to co-own the network that\u2019s powering their lives. After completing a 16-week accelerator program in 2023 with Andreessen Horowitz\u2019s Talent and Opportunity Initiative (A16Z), Sparks returned with a bold idea: skip traditional venture capital<\/a> and open the door to grassroots investment.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I wanted to do from that experience was not necessarily go the VC route,\u201d he explained. \u201cI wanted to create an opportunity for our community.\u201d<\/p>\n