Pandemic Shut Down Highlighted Necessity For Accessible and Affordable Broadband
During the COVID-19 pandemic, residents of the Newport Housing Authority in Rhode Island encountered a distinctive challenge: the urgent necessity for affordable and dependable internet access. This need was particularly pronounced as numerous residents, especially senior citizens, found themselves confined to their homes, increasingly reliant on digital connectivity. The steep costs of broadband services exacerbated an already wide digital divide within the community.
“Tommy Sheehan, a resident and member of our Board of Commissioners reached out to not only ask what we’re going to do about the digital divide, but he offered his partnership through his non-profit, the Hi Lo Neighborhood Association, and assumed an invaluable leadership role in our broadband equity project,” said Rhonda Mitchell, Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Newport (HAN).
Recognizing this as an issue demanding resolution, Tommy Sheehan, a public housing resident deeply rooted in Newport, embarked on a mission. Despite lacking expertise in broadband matters, Tommy, with his track record of community engagement, was well-equipped to address the digital divide. He firmly believed that every member of his community deserved equal access to high-speed internet, a resource readily available in more affluent neighboring areas.
Rhonda said, “Our friend at the Commerce RI, Daniela Fairchild, introduced us to the amazing OSHEAN team. We worked with Dave Marble, Mark Montalto, and their team and created an invaluable partnership! OSHEAN truly helped the Housing Authority map out our inclusive and equitable broadband vision.”
To actualize this vision, Tommy collaborated with Rhonda and Mark Montalto, VP of Business Development at OSHEAN. Together, they conceived a community-wide Wi-Fi network. While technically feasible for OSHEAN and its partners to construct, the financial hurdles loomed large. The pandemic, while elongating timelines, also spotlighted the importance of connectivity, presenting fresh funding avenues.
The journey was fraught with challenges, navigating the intricacies of public funding with persistence and resolve. Rhonda spearheaded administrative pathways, while Tommy’s brother Dennis, a retired finance professor, crafted a compelling grant proposal. Dennis’s expertise proved instrumental, securing a substantial grant of $700,000. This funding not only covered the network’s construction and maintenance for five years but also proved significantly more cost-effective than initial estimates.
The project, involving a blend of fiber optics, wireless access points, and point-to-point links, eventually reached fruition, despite Pandemic-related inflation escalating the final costs. Its success spurred Rhonda and Tommy to extend the same service to Park Holm, another, larger HAN development, supported by the federally-funded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Despite bureaucratic hurdles, this phase succeeded, offering free community Wi-Fi to nearly all HAN residents.
Transitioning to this new service posed its own set of challenges. Many residents, accustomed to cable TV and existing connections, hesitated to switch, despite potential cost savings. This reluctance underscored the broader issue of digital equity, emphasizing the necessity of support and education in adopting new technologies, particularly for non-digital natives. Tommy is already envisioning a sustainable support model for his community, distributing streaming devices to his neighbors.
The tale of Newport Housing Authority’s community Wi-Fi stands as a testament to the potency of public-private partnerships and the perseverance required to navigate public funding processes. It may also serve as a harbinger of the ongoing challenges in realizing the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program’s vision of “Internet for All.” OSHEAN plans to replicate this successful model across other municipal housing authorities, armed with the wisdom and experience garnered from the Newport project. While cognizant of the challenges ahead, they remain optimistic and resolute, acknowledging the profound impact equitable internet access can wield on communities.