Milwaukee is among eight U.S. cities in which Microsoft Corp. is expanding a program aimed at closing the digital divide.
Around 336,000 people — roughly 36% of the population — in Milwaukee County don't use the internet at broadband speeds, according to Microsoft data.
Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) said Wednesday it is partnering with the nonprofit organization PCs for People to provide high-speed internet for $15 a month to approximately 1,700 residents in Milwaukee's Lindsay Heights neighborhood. PCs for People is keeping costs down by mounting antennas on buildings to broadcast broadband signals, rather than using fiber to connect individual homes, according to Microsoft.
In addition to affordable broadband access, PCs for People will provide low-cost refurbished devices with warranties and technical support to newly connected residents, Microsoft said.
Microsoft's Airband Initiative launched in 2017 with a focus on expanding broadband access in rural communities. Its goal is to bring high-speed internet connectivity to three million Americans and 40 million people worldwide by July 2022. So far, the effort has expanded access to 1.5 million people in rural areas of the U.S. and more than 14 million people worldwide, according to the company.
In addition to Milwaukee, Microsoft is expanding its Airband Initiative to Atlanta; Detroit; Cleveland; El Paso, Texas; Los Angeles; Memphis, Tennessee, and New York City. These cities face some of the largest broadband gaps among racial and ethnic minorities, according to the company.
The Microsoft initiative is among several recent pushes aimed at bridging the digital divide in the Milwaukee area. Other efforts include:
- The United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County recently formalized its Techquity initiative, which is focused on advocacy as well as providing access to broadband, digital devices and technical skills.
- In late April, the city of Milwaukee announced free Wi-Fi access in 10 new city parks, an effort paid for through CARES Act funding.
- At least 52 Wisconsin broadband providers are subsidizing internet access through the FCC's Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBBP), which started in May and reduces internet costs by up to $50 per month for qualifying low-income households.
