Hundreds of households in downtown Yonkers will soon have access to free or affordable internet due to a grant from U.S. Ignite, but officials in the city of Yonkers are not telling families about the program.
Several local organizations also received a $450,000 grant from the organization, but the process of signing up Yonkers residents seems to be being set up in a manner that is open and transparent.
Many struggling Yonkers families don’t have the means to work or learn from home, or participate in telehealth visits due to the digital divide, but no information is being put out about this huge grant.
Low income and disproportionately people of color in Yonkers society been marginalized in terms of having digital access, but information about this massive grant is kept from them.
One wonders when and how details on how to enroll in the program and criteria for eligibility will be shared with families in need in Yonkers.
As usual in Yonkers there is no public participation or public comment on how this $450,000 grant can best applied to help the families and seniors in need.
US Ignite is a national effort originated by the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), led by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in partnership with other federal agencies.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the only federal agency whose mission includes support for all fields of fundamental science and engineering, except for medical sciences.
One response to “HIDDEN FROM THE PUBLIC: US Ignite, A Federal Program, Sends $450,000 Grant To Bring Free Wifi To Downtown Yonkers Families – By Brian Harrod”
[…] YONKERS ROUNDUP >>> HIDDEN FROM THE PUBLIC: US Ignite, A Federal Program, Sends $450,000 Grant To Bring Free Wifi To Downtown Yonkers Families – By Brian Harrod PHOTO: In this unprecedented time, substantial inequalities in the use of the internet are depriving the young and the elderly of their fundamental rights to education, access to information and participation. YONKERS, NY: Hundreds of households in downtown Yonkers will soon have access to free or affordable internet due to a grant from U.S. Ignite, but officials in the city of Yonkers are not telling families about the program. Several local organizations also received a $450,000 grant from the organization, but the process of signing up Yonkers residents seems to be being set up in a manner that is open and transparent. Many struggling Yonkers families don’t have the means to work or learn from home, or participate in telehealth visits due to the digital divide, but no information is being put out about this huge grant. Low income and disproportionately people of color in Yonkers society been marginalized in terms of having digital access, but information about this massive grant is kept from them. One wonders when and how details on how to enroll in the program and criteria for eligibility will be shared with families in need in Yonkers. As usual in Yonkers there is no public participation or public comment on how this $450,000 grant can best applied to help the families and seniors in need. US Ignite is a national effort originated by the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), led by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in partnership with other federal agencies. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the only federal agency whose mission includes support for all fields of fundamental science and engineering, except for medical sciences…. https://yonkersroundup.com/index.php/2021/03/30/hidden-from-the-public-us-ignite-a-federal-program-s… […]