Lincoln Park Gains Big in City's Plan to 'Close Digital Divide'

Lincoln Park is among city neighborhoods gaining the most access to a low-cost broadband service that officials are rolling out soon to another one million residents.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said his plan also includes free Internet training through nonprofit organization, Connect2Compete, according to Crain's Chicago Business.

The publication reports:

Neighborhoods with the least access include Hermosa at 36 percent and East Garfield Park at 44 percent. ... Compare that with North Center, which has the highest penetration at 94 percent broadband usage, followed by Wrigleyville, Lakeview, Lincoln Park and the South Loop at 93 percent.

Chicago was reportedly selected as a pilot city for the Washington-based “Everyone On” campaign.

But the current digital push has been years in the making. In 2006, Mayor Richard M. Daley created an advisory council on "Closing the Digital Divide" tasked with bringing public, private and nonprofit sector leaders together to "create a policy framework for bridging technology haves and have nots."

Over a one-year period, the council established working groups to examine current conditions, activities and best practices for bridging the digital gap.

In addition to holding a series of public hearings, members surveyed and interviewed community-based organizations, workforce development groups, universities and senior Chicago-area corporate executives. 

The research culminated into a 65-page document of comprehensive recommendations entitled The City That Networks: Transforming Society and Economy Through Digital Excellence.

It details the framework of the initiative which, among other things, includes effective network access that is high-speed, affordable and available to everyone.

Officials have been most recently increasing digital access for families since 2011. The Chicago Tribune says the city boasts the highest participation rate in the country for a program that has provided affordable Internet access to more than 11,000 families. The Crain's reports expounds on the most recent announcement.

"EveryoneOn will use wireless technology to deliver low-cost broadband to additional users in Chicago ZIP codes where the median income is $35,000 or less," the story says.

City officials affirm that they will work to become a "global leader in ensuring that its residents, its businesses and its communities are informed, connected and empowered through technology".

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