FAMU grant to give cost-free substantial-velocity world-wide-web to south Tallahassee

Florida A&M University’s efforts to provide its students and southside Tallahassee with cost-free, superior-speed, wi-fi web are in the generating immediately after obtaining a $5.4 million two-yr grant for the initiative.

The “Building a Electronic Pipeline to Prosperity” task will make a “FAM-G” network that is predicted to launch in about eight months — suitable around the time of FAMU’s annual homecoming.

The university’s aim is to bridge the digital divide that exists in between its 422-acre most important campus and the city’s south aspect as the net obtain will lengthen to the underserved neighborhood that surrounds it by at least a one-mile radius.

Neighborhood southside residents like Elton E. Thomas, who currently resides in Apalachee Ridge Estates found off Orange Avenue — approximately two miles away from FAMU’s campus — would perhaps reward from the free of charge-of-cost, large pace web if it reaches his zone.

Thomas presently pays about $100 a thirty day period for net obtain with Xfinity.

“For a single, the provider would assist men and women who primarily have slower products and services listed here or no support at all,” explained Thomas, 66, who has been dwelling in Tallahassee because 1985.

Who is spearheading the initiative?

The job is being funded by the Nationwide Telecommunications and Information and facts Administration, which has a massive concentration of expanding broadband web access throughout the country.