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San Jose leaders are taking proactive steps to address the digital divide by delivering resources directly to residents’ homes. Mayor Matt Mahan and Congressman Jimmy Panetta recently canvassed the Edenvale neighborhood in South San Jose to inform residents about a federal program that offers subsidies of up to per month for Wi-Fi bills. Approximately one-third of the residents in Edenvale qualify for this program, as do 30,000 households in San Jose overall.

During their door-to-door visits, Mahan and Panetta informed residents about the Wi-Fi subsidy and other internet connectivity programs available at the Edenvale Library. The San Jose Library system manages these resources through SJ Access, which also helps residents receive subsidies for their broadband bills.

The digital divide remains a pressing issue, affecting about 1 in 5 households in the United States. Even in San Jose, approximately 95,000 residents lack access to broadband internet. Underserved communities experience the greatest impact, with 36% of Latino families and 47% of African American families still lacking access to the internet.

Unlike rural areas that face infrastructure limitations, San Jose has the capacity to connect all its residents. However, many individuals cannot afford internet services. In response, the city launched SJ Access in 2020, offering internet access, free Wi-Fi, and digital literacy programs. This initiative has a million budget, partially funded by the federal Affordable Connectivity Program, which allocates billion for this purpose. In addition to the monthly subsidies, eligible residents can also receive 0 in one-time funds to purchase devices such as routers, tablets, or laptops.

Since 2021, over 33,000 city households have received the SJ Access subsidy, resulting in .7 million in savings on broadband bills. SJ Access has also built five new community Wi-Fi networks in underserved neighborhoods, distributed thousands of hotspots and laptops to residents over three years, and organized numerous digital skills workshops.

The San Jose Library plays a crucial role in supporting residents’ connectivity and digital literacy. Its mission is to provide essential information and assist residents in accessing and utilizing Wi-Fi services effectively. The library actively promotes enrollment in the affordable connectivity program.

Residents can access SJ Access services online or through any of the city’s libraries. They can also sign up for Wi-Fi subsidies at getinternet.gov.

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