US ConnectHome Initiative Received An Added Boost From Cox Communications

Like access to the radio and television, access to the internet has now become a necessity, for most in the developed world.  the offering of services via the internet have increased and there is the added benefit that if you use the internet for these services you will save money.  Also, to support advance learning the use of the internet is required.

Through it partnership with Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) ConnectHome initiative Cox Communication will be offering families that is part of the HUD assisted household with school-age children its Connect2Compete low-cost internet service. This will be available within Cox's 18 state service area.

The ConnectHome initiative has President Obama's backing.  Studies done by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) found that within the United States, especially in rural areas broadband speed is not keeping up with the advances in internet services, such as high-quality voice, data, graphics and video.

The FCC also found that today's households need broadband speed of 25 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 3Mbps for uploads. This requirement has increase drastically from benchmark set in 2010, where it was 4Mbps for download and 1Mbps for download. Currently: 17 percent of all Americans (55 million people) lack access to 25Mbps/3Mbps service and 53 percent of rural Americans (22 million people) lack access to 25Mbps/3Mbps.

The ConnectHome initiative is a public and private partnership initiative with partners such as Google Fiber. Last Year the ConnectHome pilot program was launched in twenty-seven cities and one tribal nation and it includes approximately 275,000 low-income households and nearly 200,000 children.  Internet Service Providers, non-profits and the private sector will offer broadband access, technical training, digital literacy programs, and devices for residents in assisted housing units.

Since last July, Cox Communications has rolled out Connect2Compete services to families receiving HUD housing assistance in four communities: Meriden, Connecticut; Macon, Georgia; Baton Rouge, Louisiana and New Orleans, Louisiana and now Phoenix, Arizona.

"Technology and the Internet play an increasingly critical role in the education of our youth. Yet, students cannot take the Internet home in their backpacks," said Cox President Pat Esser. "We are committed to staying at the forefront of the Internet adoption movement. Through strong partnerships in the communities we serve, we will build more bridges to enable all families to cross the digital divide, regardless of where they live."