Free Outdoor Wi-Fi Now Offered At 10 County Public Libraries

SILVER SPRING, MD — In an effort to address digital inequalities during COVID-19, Montgomery County has installed outdoor public Wi-Fi at 10 of its public libraries.

The branches that now offer free Wi-Fi are Aspen Hill, Davis (North Bethesda), Gaithersburg, Germantown, Maggie Nightingale (Poolesville), Marilyn Praisner (Burtonsville), Rockville Memorial, Twinbrook, Wheaton, and White Oak branches. Free Wi-Fi is also available in front of the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza.

This free service is offered 24 hours a day in parking lots adjacent to the library buildings, according to county officials. Additional coverage is provided in the grass area behind the Davis branch, in the park from the library to the playground area at Wheaton, and in the Rockville Town Square. Wi-Fi coverage varies by location.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has brought greater awareness of the impacts of the widening digital disparity, which often deprives community members of opportunities to participate in important daily-life activities such as remote learning, accessing workforce development and employment information or staying up-to-date on news and information," said County Executive Marc Elrich. "The work of MCPL and the Department of Technology Services to secure funding to provide Wi-Fi availability for outside use at 11 county facilities is another step in working to ensure that all community members have equitable access to reliable connectivity."

Montgomery County Public Libraries and the Department of Technology Services said they were able to outfit their facilities with free Wi-Fi through CARES Act grant funding.

Seven of the 10 library branches were chosen by analyzing U.S. Census data for neighborhoods with lower incomes and households without home internet, officials said. The other three locations — Davis, Rockville, and Wheaton Regional — were selected because of their involvement with MCPL's small business programs.

"Small business owners who relied on MCPL indoor Wi-Fi to run their businesses asked the county for help and we were glad to assist them," said Assistant Chief Administrative Officer for Small Economic Development Jerome Fletcher. "Small businesses are critical to the county's economic recovery and more outdoor public Wi-Fi is another way the county is offering relief to small businesses."