Baltimore Gives Public Housing Residents Free Tablet Computers, Internet

The City of Baltimore has given public housing residents free computer tablets and two years of Internet service in an attempt to close the “digital divide,” according to a report.

The Housing Authority of Baltimore City “arranged to give away 500 tablets with two-year Internet subscriptions to their tenants as part of an effort to confront the digital divide, the virtual disconnect from information and opportunities that disproportionately affects low-income and minority families,” reported the Washington Post, who confirmed the Housing Authority is paying $120,000 on “high-speed data plans for two years per tablet.”

While the Housing Authority is paying for the Internet, T-Mobile reportedly donated the tablets.

“If it’s hard for us to connect to them, it will be even harder for employers,” explained Baltimore Housing Authority’s Director of Resident Services, Tracey Oliver-Keyser. “We were looking at the impact it makes, especially for our folks looking to move up economically… For our low- and very low-income families, there is a huge disparity in access to Internet services, and also in devices, especially in their home.”

In June, it was revealed that the Baltimore Police Department is in “chaos” due to their outdated technology that’s over twenty years old.

Ars Technica reported that, “Core technologies used by the department are no longer supported by software vendors, with some over 20 years old,” while “the Motorola radio system used for mobile communications by the force, including 911 dispatch, will no longer be supported after this year — and there are no plans in place to replace it.”