Fast, free broadband is now available to residents and businesses in south Los Angeles.
The Crenshaw Community Connectivity Pilot went live Thursday, and it spans 1.5 miles along Crenshaw Boulevard from Leimert Park Plaza to the Hyde Park Metro Station. The project represents a public-private partnership among the city, Cisco and a number of neighborhood nonprofits. The technology uses fiber communications infrastructure and wireless backhaul technology provided by Cisco.
The public Wi-Fi project has been lauded as a crucial link to closing the connectivity gap in the area.
“Every Angeleno deserves access to reliable, high-speed Internet — no matter their ZIP code,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in a statement. “This initiative in the Crenshaw Corridor shows what’s possible when the public, private and nonprofit sectors come together with the community to bridge the digital divide. As Los Angeles prepares to welcome the world in the years ahead, investments like this will ensure opportunity and connectivity reaches every neighborhood across the city.”
Community and technology advocates have often offered broadband connectivity as a necessary piece of infrastructure for both urban and rural America, enabling advancements in education, health-care access and jobs.
“This is an economic development situation here with broadband. I think everybody’s made a lot about the digital divide. But ultimately, it is about economics,” said Bryan Darr, vice president of government affairs at Ookla, speaking on a Sept. 24 panel for Broadband Breakfast, a news and policy organization focused on broadband technology.
“Providing people connectivity is wonderful. But you’re also trying to drive business,” he added. “You’re trying to retain citizens and businesses within our area. And you’re trying to attract new ones.”