The City of Durham is reaching out to residents in need with a helping hand to bridge the digital divide. Partnering with Durham County, they are distributing 600 MiFi hotspots for free to provide low-income households with essential internet service. Funding for this initiative comes from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and aims to assist with necessities such as education, job hunting, and healthcare. “Internet access is essential for success in today's world,” Patrice Carroll, the City’s digital inclusion program manager, emphasized in a recent public announcement by the City of Durham News.
This new MiFi Distribution Program is designed not just to supply devices quickly, but also to maintain reliable connectivity for its recipients. Durham's leadership is acutely aware that having online access is hardly a modern extravagance but rather a fundamental need—a tool that every resident must have to fully partake in and benefit from society’s vast digital realm. This program, Carroll says, is about equipping residents "to connect, learn, and thrive." While the devices are not unlimited—600 to be exact—the program does indeed aim to reach quite a considerable swath of the community, as per the City of Durham.
Those interested should act swiftly, as the application survey is now open and will run through November 2025, or until those aforementioned funds are depleted. Device distribution is set to commence this September. To be eligible, applicants must fulfill several criteria including being over 18, belonging to a low-income household, and having the necessary documentation to prove eligibility. To get the full scoop on what documents are needed and where to submit them, resources are available on the project's web page, via email, or through a direct call to the city at 919-560-4122, ext. 33260 for more information.
The City of Durham has allocated $211,000 from ARPA to provide 600 MiFi hotspots and service through a contract with Verizon Wireless. “This program helps make sure every Durham resident has the tools they need to connect, learn, and thrive,” Carroll said. Residents in need of internet access can apply for the program to gain resources for education, job searching, and other essential uses.
