San Francisco Digital Inclusion Strategy

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The San Francisco Digital Inclusion Strategy (SFDIS) is a policy initiative in San Francisco, CA. It is part of TechConnect, which is an initiative aimed at achieving Mayor Gavin Newsom's campaign promise to provide all San Franciscans with free wireless internet access.

Gavin Newsom 40th Governor of California

Gavin Christopher Newsom is an American politician and businessman. He is the 40th and current governor of California, since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 49th lieutenant governor of California from 2011 to 2019 and as the 42nd mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011. He was sworn in as Governor of California on January 7, 2019. He is a national progressive figure who was a prominent early advocate for same-sex marriage, immigrant rights, universal health care, gun control, and the legalization of cannabis.

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TechConnect did not originally have a digital inclusion component. After significant criticism from groups that had advanced the idea of citywide wireless, the City's Department of Telecommunications and Information Services (DTIS) created a Digital Inclusion Task Force. This Task Force created what is now apparently known as the San Francisco Digital Inclusion Strategy hopes to ease the Digital Divide in the city of San Francisco. The digital divide is the gap between those with regular, effective access to digital technologies and those without.

San Francisco Consolidated city-county in California, United States

San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the cultural, commercial, and financial center of Northern California. San Francisco is the 13th-most populous city in the United States, and the fourth-most populous in California, with 884,363 residents as of 2017. It covers an area of about 46.89 square miles (121.4 km2), mostly at the north end of the San Francisco Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area, making it the second-most densely populated large US city, and the fifth-most densely populated U.S. county, behind only four of the five New York City boroughs. San Francisco is also part of the fifth-most populous primary statistical area in the United States, the San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland, CA Combined Statistical Area.

Digital data, in information theory and information systems, is the discrete, discontinuous representation of information or works. Numbers and letters are commonly used representations.

On the city’s website Newsom said, “We are committed to bring universal, affordable wireless broadband internet access to all San Francisco’s residents and businesses.” [1]

The initiative will focus on underserved neighborhoods and disadvantaged residents within San Francisco. By applying national statistics to the city’s demographics, they estimate that 200,000 San Francisco residents lack access to informational technology. [2] Today, the Internet and other digital technologies, are very important for employment, information/education, and social networking. Those without access to such technologies are at a distinct disadvantage.

There are six major aspects of the plan. The most widely publicized is the San Francisco Municipal Wireless initiative that was the cornerstone, and originally the only component of TechConnect.

San Francisco Municipal Wireless was a canceled municipal wireless network that would have provided internet access to the city of San Francisco, California.

Strategic elements

According to the San Francisco Digital Inclusion Strategy Executive Summary, the six major program goals are Free and Affordable Wireless Internet Access, Computer Ownership and Basic Training Programs, Online Safety and Responsibility, Accessible Solutions, Enhanced Digital Literacy Programs, and Relevant, Multi-language Internet Content and Online Services. [2]

Free and Affordable Wireless Internet Access

The goal is to have wireless access throughout the City- in schools, homes, and businesses and on the street. Because technology hasn’t advanced too far past the wireless routers we all use in our apartments, the wireless network will consist of maybe a thousand points of connectivity to blanket the city.

In addition to a range of low cost, high bandwidth services, the San Francisco program will offer a free basic service designed to read e-mail and surf the Internet.

The free connection will allow web access at 300 kbit/s while high-speed access (1 Mbit/s) will be available for $21.95. 3200 high-speed accounts will be available for qualifying low-income residents for $12.95. [2]

Computer Ownership and Basic Training Programs

This program will attempt to expand personal computer ownership to all residents of San Francisco and teach users basic skills like email and web browsing to use their new tools. The city plans to increase awareness about current programs that collect, refurbish and distribute used computers to underserved communities. In addition, a low or no-interest computer purchase program will relieve qualifying low-income residents of some of the financial stress of purchasing a new computer. Furthermore, technology fairs in the underserved neighborhoods will promote these services.

Online Safety and Responsibility

With the goal that all San Franciscans should feel comfortable using the Internet in ways that are appropriate to their and their families’ needs, educational programs will be implemented to increase parents’ awareness of resources that help protect children’s online safety.

Accessible Solutions

The goal behind this provision is that all San Franciscans, including those with disabilities, will have unhindered access to the Internet. People with physical and mental disabilities and some seniors may need special accommodations to more easily use a computer and the Internet. The city will promote current Accessibility and Ease of Use tools in current software. In addition, promotion of new technologies to help users with a number of disabilities will also be important.

The implementation of computer purchase programs will include at least one configuration for physical impairments.

Enhanced Digital Literacy Programs

Computer training will be available for residents to move from novice to expert users. Basic technical support (over phone and on-site) and computer training will be available to underserved communities in SF.

Relevant, Multi-language Internet Content and Online Services

In order to better serve San Francisco’s diverse and multicultural communities, the city hopes to increase multi-lingual and multi-cultural content geared towards underserved communities. A ‘digital inclusion’ portal will provide info about the purchasing programs and services described before. It will at least be in English, Spanish and Chinese. Community based websites and local content and news will be encouraged and promoted through Google and Earthlink. Finally, training programs will be available for communities to develop their own content.

Objections to the SFDIS

While most will agree that the goal of easing the digital divide is a good one, many informed people have raised objections to franchise contract with EarthLink/Google.

Lack of ownership

Under the current model, the city and its residents will not own the infrastructure that makes free wi-fi possible. It will belong to EarthLink, who will then sell wholesale network capacity to Google

Coverage uncertainty

There are no assurances the wireless network coverage will be complete. There are concerns the signal will not reach interior rooms, or above the second floor. Individuals in these situations will need to purchase a repeater box which can cost as much as $150. Even then, the box would need to be placed in a location that can get a signal in the first place.

Length of Contract

The city of San Francisco’s contract with Earthlink consist of 4 four-year terms which are automatically renewed. This could leave San Francisco at the mercy of EarthLink in terms of network maintenance and upgrades.

Connection speed

The free service would be 300 kbit/s, 1/3 the speed of what other cities are getting in their wifi deals.

Possible Alternatives

One possible alternative to such an institutionalized wireless system, is the product line from Meraki The mini, a low-cost and lower power type of repeater box, assists in creating a free wi-fi network by allowing users to broadcast their unused bandwidth and coordinate this with bandwidth broadcast by other Minis in its area. While it may not be a feasible city-wide plan, and raises some serious terms of service questions with ISPs, it shows some creativity and demonstrates an alternative to the massive plan set to move forward in San Francisco.

Existing is SFLAN, a project of the Internet Archive, for over five years is San Francisco's first and only prolific community Wi-Fi network. It boasts network neutrality and ample bandwidth without any additional or special hardware other than one's current wireless devices. Its difference is its solid, stable connection when wireless equipment is mounted on the roof of a building plus the ability to maintain a wired inside environment.

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Wireless network any network at least partly not connected by physical cables of any kind

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Qiniq

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National broadband plan

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The digital divide in the United States refers to inequalities between individuals, households, and other groups of different demographic and socioeconomic levels in access to information and communication technologies ("ICTs") and in the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use the information gained from connecting. The global digital divide refers to inequalities in access, knowledge, and skills, but designates countries as the units of analysis and examines the divide between developing and developed countries on an international scale.

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References

  1. ↑ Sfgov.org: SF TechConnect (2009-05-17)
  2. 1 2 3 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-02-25. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
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