Congressman Cleaver Praises Free Internet Access Announcement
Last Year Cleaver Wrote to Google Exec Larry Page and Called on Company to Help Close Kansas City’s Burgeoning Digital Divide
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II praised today's announcement by Google Fiber and Secretary Julian Castro of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development regarding the access of free internet services to several residents in Kansas City's public housing. The digital divide is an issue Congressman Cleaver has been working tenaciously to close as the Ranking Member of the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee on Financial Services.
Just over a year ago, Congressman Cleaver and Secretary Castro met to discuss affordable internet services for all who need it, especially those in low and moderate income housing. Last July, President Obama and Secretary Castro announced a new initiative, called ConnectHome, to target broadband access to assisted housing units in 28 communities in our country. Kansas City was chosen as one of the demonstration cities.
In a letter to Google executive Larry Page, dated one year ago this week, Congressman Cleaver wrote:
"Today I'm writing to request that Google take additional steps to assist in closing the digital divide in Kansas City. I urge Google to sit down with local Kansas City Housing Authority officials to develop a strategy to help us reach the project's ultimate goal of connecting our under-served residents. I have also made requests to Kansas City Housing Authority to sit down with a diverse group of community stakeholders, including Google, to work to address the KC digital divide."
The full text of the letter is available here.
Today's news about Google Fiber providing free gigabit service to residents of West Bluff Apartments and their commitment to add four additional Kansas City Housing Authority complexes to its program is a significant step in bridging our digital divide. This effort will benefit over 200,000 residents nationally by providing computers, free super-fast internet service and computer literacy training. The Congressman will continue to push to see additional communities served in this manner as he believes access to high-speed internet is no longer a luxury but a necessity in our current global economy.
For more information, please see past press releases:
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Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, and also a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.
For more information, please contact Heather Frierson at 816-842-4545 or Heather.Frierson@mail.house.gov