Jamie McGee

USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

All Nashville public housing units connected to Google Fiber will receive free gigabit speed Internet, the company announced Wednesday.

The announcement is part of the U.S. Department of Housing's ConnectHome initiative that seeks to expand Internet access in low-income areas. Free high-speed Internet will be offered in all Google Fiber cities, with Google Fiber absorbing the cost.

"Making Internet more affordable and accessible can fundamentally move entire communities forward," said Google Fiber CEO Dennis Kish on a conference call. "For families in affordable housing, fast broadband can mean the difference between keeping up or falling behind."

With local partners, Google Fiber also plans to invest in computer labs and digital literacy courses that residents can access.

Digital inclusion push gets more attention

The housing department and Google Fiber announced free basic Internet for select public housing properties in July. The gigabit speed offering is a new development.

"The gigabit speed we think is the future of the Internet, and we want to bring it to as many people as we possibly can," Kish said. "We don’t think there is any reason that if we are providing a connection to these residents that it shouldn’t be the best possible."

The ConnectHome initiative seeks to connect about 5,200 families in Nashville and 275,000 families in 28 U.S. cities.

Erica Swanson, head of Google Fiber's community impact programs, confirmed that Google Fiber will work with Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency to choose Nashville properties with a high percentage of children and that have space for community centers.

Free Internet initiative is big step for Nashville

Kish said the free Google Fiber connections will not cost housing authorities or public housing residents, and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro said the costs to HUD have been $50,000 and staffing dedicated to the initiative.

Kish did not offer any updates on Google Fiber deployment in Nashville or other cities.

Reach Jamie McGee at 615-259-8071 and on Twitter @JamieMcGee_.

HUD secretary speaks to Nashville students about ConnectHome



