Free Internet access in San Francisco. MAYOR NEWSOM ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF SAN FRANCISCO’S FREE WI-FI NETWORK

More than 2,200 residents in the Sunnydale housing development now have access to free Wi-Fi



SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Mayor Gavin Newsom today announced the expansion of the

city’s "Network of Community Networks" free Wi-Fi network to residents of

the Sunnydale housing development. Outside Sunnydale’s new technology lab,

the Mayor highlighted the city’s progress expanding free wireless Internet

access throughout San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA) developments and

other affordable housing sites.



“To improve our economy, it is critical that we bridge the digital divide,”

said Mayor Gavin Newsom. “The launch of this free Wi-Fi network at the

Sunnydale housing development is another step forward in our goal of

providing free Internet access to all San Franciscans.”



Over the past year the Department of Technology (DT) has created and

coordinated the development of free wireless networks covering 2121 units

at SFHA developments and at over 1200 units at non-profit sites. At the

Sunnydale housing development, the city’s Communities of Opportunity (COO)

teamed with the technology nonprofit, One Economy to establish the free

network.



"At One Economy, we believe quality information is central to quality of

life," said Dave McConnell, senior vice president at One Economy. "We are

proud to be part of this effort to use broadband to connect hundreds of

families with the tools they need to improve their lives."



The free Wi-Fi network at Sunnydale was funded through the AT&T Foundation.



"AT&T is a strong proponent of broadband infrastructure as a critical

component of our 21st century California economy,” Ken McNeely, President

of AT&T California. “We remain committed to doing our part to make

affordable broadband even more widely available, so we're pleased to be

able to partner with One Economy and the City of San Francisco on this

important program in Sunnydale."



In addition to free Internet access, DT has engaged partners to ensure that

residents served by the city’s free Wi- Fi network, especially low-income

and disadvantaged residents have access to complimentary training, low cost

computers and support.



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