Oak Park officials are looking to expand internet access in multi-unit buildings, in an attempt to bring equity of the ““critical resource,” to marginalized and low-income households.
Residents who can afford to live in single-family homes typically have more options when it comes to internet connection or may be able to more easily afford high-speed connection. But multi-unit residents shouldn’t be left out of accessing a resource needed for day-to-day necessities such as school, work or even healthcare appointments, officials said.
Ensuring equitable internet access could be considered part of the village’s desire to be committed to “equity, diversity and inclusion because these values make us a desirable and strong community for all people.”
In 2021, for example, the village board adopted a goal of exploring affordability of internet services. One way to help reach that goal is to ensure access in multi-unit residential buildings, and preferably high-speed access.
High-speed internet service is considered 100 megabytes or higher. In an April 2023 study of 188 multi-unit residential buildings, those with four or more units, the village’s information technology staff found that high-speed internet with AT&T, a common local provider, was only available in 66 units. They discovered that low speed through AT&T was available in 90 units and that 32 units had no access at all. Now, there are three more units with high-speed access, for a total of 69.
Village officials are trying to expand that access, but don’t yet know what solutions might look like.
The village’s civic information systems commission members agreed at their April meeting that community education on internet service providers is the next step to increase internet connectivity in Oak Park. So, representatives presented their findings to the village board Tuesday night.
“We feel by educating the residents, we are empowering them to be able to find a solution,” said Alvin Nepomuceno, the village’s information technology director.
Some locations in Oak Park offer free internet access, with no income restrictions, such as the Oak Park Public Library. Staff at the library, however, have said the demand for that first-come, first-served internet access is larger than the available funding. They’ve also said continuous usage has caused the library to lower data speeds to maintain costs. But those lower speeds affect the user, too.
District 97 offers hotspots to students eligible for free lunch programs, and District 200 offers access through Comcast affordability initiatives, according to a February 2023 assessment of community broadband access.
“Because of the unconventional device usage and long waiting list at the library, and the high device demand at D97, it appears that there may be an overall internet access equity problem in Oak Park,” officials said in the memo.
“While high-speed internet is important for everyone, it is particularly important for families with school-aged children,” Trustee Brian Straw said Tuesday night.
In 2020, Oak Park tried to improve the village’s information technology network. New infrastructure was used to help support internet access at governing bodies and District 97.
However, the CISC wrote in the 2023 memo that the cost to expand Oak Park internet access programs that already exist would be less expensive than the community creating its own new infrastructure.
At Tuesday’s village board meeting, David Baker, the CISC chairperson, pointed out that in multi-unit dwellings, residents must go through a landlord for internet access, often only getting access through one provider. Residents of single-family homes, conversely, have more options. Baker said the village should prioritize getting internet service from at least two providers into every structure in the village.
The village could also try to incentivize property owners to make multiple providers available, Baker said. But those owners may also see the benefits of having options on their own, including an increasing desire to live in those buildings.
The study also found that high-speed Xfinity internet access is available in the community and could be a good option for expanding access in multi-unit dwellings. According to village officials, some CISC members think wireless 5G internet access could benefit the community, too. T-Mobile provides 5G in addition to AT&T.
Nepomuceno also pointed out that the federal affordable connectivity program ended June 1. This program helped ensure households could afford internet access for things like work, school and healthcare. But qualifying low-income households can continue to access internet services for $30 per month for high speed at AT&T and $9.95 per month for low speed at Xfinity.