Fort Worth

Free Wi-Fi Launches in Five Fort Worth Neighborhoods

The city used areas identified in the Neighborhood Improvement Program as part of the selection process

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The City of Fort Worth has collaborated with technology company Cisco and digital services and solutions provider Presidio to launch free CFW Neighborhood Wi-Fi access to five neighborhoods.

On Tuesday, the CFW Neighborhood Wi-Fi service rolled out in the Ash Crescent, Lake Como, Northside and Rosemont neighborhoods and will expand to Stop Six in the fall.

With so many people now working remotely and taking online classes, some lack home internet access, which makes it harder to do these things. City officials said the digital divide is impacting residents' quality of life, especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It really was brought to the forefront during the pandemic, because kids were at home trying to Zoom for school," Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said Tuesday. "We’re going to learn a lot, as these Wi-Fi networks turn on and these neighborhoods, the feedback we’re getting from residents, and what it looks like to expand this opportunity across the city."

Gary DePreta, with Cisco, said an estimated 60,000 residents in Fort Worth do not have access to the internet at home. The launch Tuesday will expand access for at least 40,000 residents.

"Digital equity is an issue not only in Fort Worth but digital equity that was exposed during the pandemic is an issue that’s facing the whole nation," DePreta said. "No one ever questions the need for clean water in our communities or affordable electricity or access to transit, and we feel broadband is right up there with those basic needs."

According to the city, Fort Worth ISD also joined the partnership to make the program possible by allowing them to use school buildings to hold equipment that will originate the signal. CFW Neighborhood Wi-Fi complements Fort Worth ISD's effort to deliver connectivity to students districtwide.

As part of the neighborhood selection process, the city used areas identified in the Neighborhood Improvement Program. The program relies on household income, poverty, and crime rate data to concentrate on where improvements are needed the most. Additionally, all five of these neighborhoods have low internet subscription rates.

The city says the home internet subscription rate is now included as a metric of the Neighborhood Improvement Program and will be considered in the selection of neighborhoods for future public investment.

Dena Ashton, founder of the nonprofit Youth of Royalty Outreach, said many of the children who have participated in her program live in homes without consistent Wi-Fi access. As a result, they often use the internet at the Como Community Center to complete homework assignments and other items.

"For some families, it’s not a priority. That’s a bill they can use for groceries or gas or things of that nature," Ashton said. "We take it for granted, the people who have the access to Wi-Fi. It’s like second nature. The people who don’t, you’re missing out on everything in the world."

Residents will now be able to work from home, do classwork, apply for jobs, and access community resources as needed.

For help accessing the service, visit the website.

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