Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, Coachella Valley Housing Coalition, & Frontier Communications Unite to Help Bridge the Digital...
August 15 2017 - 1:30PM
Business Wire
Frontier public Wi-Fi hot spots unlock
opportunities in underserved communities throughout the Coachella
Valley and beyond
Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, the Coachella Valley Housing
Coalition (CVHC), and Frontier Communications celebrated the
deployment of free public Wi-Fi and computer lab renovations at the
Villa Hermosa Apartments, Eastern Coachella Valley farmworker
family housing complex. A ribbon-cutting ceremony highlighted local
and statewide efforts to bridge the digital divide and announced
the winners of a summer art contest for students of farmworker
families. CVHC resident students created artwork depicting the
benefits of increased internet access, with winning entries to be
published on Assemblymember Garcia’s website and displayed in his
Coachella District Office.
“Internet access has become a modern day necessity and should
not be treated as simply a luxury. Unfortunately, more than five
million Californians are caught on the wrong side of the digital
divide and low-income, rural communities like those in my district
are especially affected by this deficit,” said Assemblymember
Eduardo Garcia, author of AB 1665, the Internet for All Now Act of
2017. “I highly commend the partnerships Frontier Communications
has forged with CVHC and other regional entities to provide free
public Wi-Fi and other programs for underserved locations in my
district and beyond.”
Coachella Valley Housing Coalition Executive Director Julie
Bornstein stated, “For Coachella Valley Housing Coalition,
`bridging the digital divide’ means providing residents living in
our affordable housing properties all the necessary tools to
succeed in school, work and in life. Coachella Valley School
Districts use the internet for homework, writing assignments and
parental communication. We know that more than 75 percent of
colleges take their applications online, and nearly all Fortune 500
companies post new jobs through their websites: all require
computers with Internet access. No one should have to apply for a
job or do their homework on a smartphone. Frontier Communications
and Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia are making great progress in
ending the barriers to connectivity for low-income households.”
Villa Hermosa is one of six sites where Frontier has deployed
free public Wi-Fi in the Coachella Valley. Other locations include
Casitas Del Valle Apartments, Rosa Gardens Apartments, Coyote Run
Apartments, Fuente de Paz Apartments, and TODEC Legal Center.
“Frontier Communications is proud to join as a community partner
in the Coachella Valley and across the State to increase Internet
access through programs that help all Californians narrow the
digital divide,” said Joe Gamble, senior vice president for
Frontier Communications. “Frontier takes pride in our many years of
bringing broadband service to unserved and underserved communities.
Our Wi-Fi hot spots and Affordable Broadband programs align with
Frontier’s commitment to serve as many California communities as
possible and affirm our deep focus to expand high-speed
connectivity."
In addition to establishing free Wi-Fi in strategic areas
throughout the State, Frontier Communications also provides an
Affordable Broadband program that offers low-cost access to
high-speed internet and a free Chromebook laptop to qualifying
individuals. A display table and program information was available
to residents at event.
This year, Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia is leading a bipartisan
legislative initiative to increase broadband infrastructure in
disadvantaged communities.
“Thirty percent of California households do not have access to
high-speed Internet or a computer. In this day and age, that is
unacceptable. AB 1665, the Internet for All Now Act of 2017 seeks
to bring about internet equity for Californian communities by
unlocking infinite educational, health and economic opportunities,”
shared Assemblymember Garcia. “If successful, many more
communities, similar to Villa Hermosa Apartments, will be able to
become empowered through internet access.”
About Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia: Assemblymember
Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) serves as the chairperson of the
Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife. He represents the
56th district, which comprises the cities and communities of
Blythe, Brawley, Bermuda Dunes, Calexico, Calipatria, Cathedral
City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, El Centro, Holtville,
Imperial, Indio, Mecca, Oasis, North Shore, Salton Sea, Thermal,
Thousand Palms, and Westmorland.
About AB 1665, the Internet for All Now Act of 2017: AB
1665 (E. Garcia, 2017), will allocate more than $300 million and
extend the soon-to-expire California Advanced Services Fund (CASF)
for broadband deployment and adoption in rural and low income urban
areas lacking sufficient internet infrastructure. The CASF was
established by the Legislature in 2008 and is administered by the
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).This year’s measure
will call upon the CPUC to reach a goal of 98 percent household
connectivity per region. AB 1665 also stipulates greater
legislative oversight and accountability over the CPUC’s
administration of funds to improve the program.
About Coachella Valley Housing Coalition: The Coachella
Valley Housing Coalition is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3), nonprofit
affordable housing development organization founded in 1982 with
the purpose of improving the living conditions of low-income
individuals and families by constructing and operating affordable
housing infused with resident services programs and other
opportunities that enrich, build, and grow their lives.
About Frontier Communications: Frontier Communications
Corporation (NASDAQ:FTR) is a leader in providing communications
services to urban, suburban, and rural communities in 29 states.
Frontier offers a variety of services to residential customers over
its fiber-optic and copper networks, including video, high-speed
internet, advanced voice, and Frontier Secure® digital protection
solutions. Frontier Business Edge™ offers communications solutions
to small, medium, and enterprise businesses. More information about
Frontier is available at www.frontier.com.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170815005962/en/
Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, District 56Aurora
Saldivar, 760-408-6259 cellorFrontier
CommunicationsJavier Mendoza, 562-305-2345
cellorCoachella Valley Housing CoalitionJavier
H. López, 760-347-3157 ext. 302
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