The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
plans to provide $3.4 million in grants to help libraries across the
United States upgrade
their internet access to include broadband and wireless
support.
According to the American Library Association,
60% of U.S. libraries report having "insufficient"
broadband speeds, but libraries are currently being
underfunded.
Arkansas, Massachusetts, Kansas, New York, and
Virginia were given funds ranging from $367,789 to $977,468 to
develop better broadband internet connections throughout the states.
Furthermore, 14 more states are going to work with the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation to help libraries work to secure stimulus
funding.
"Federal, state, and local government
investments in connecting libraries to broadband are important steps
toward realizing the vision of universal broadband access," said
Jill Nishi, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Director of U.S.
Libraries, in a statement. "When libraries have access to
broadband, they can effectively deliver critical educational,
employment, and government services for residents that lack Internet
access elsewhere. As community anchor institutions, libraries can
also help drive local broadband adoption."
Despite wider
adoption of broadband, almost 40% of Americans today still don't have
cable or DSL support in their homes. In 70% of these
communities, a local public library is the only facility that offers
broadband internet for free.
Since leaving as the head of
Microsoft, Bill Gates has pledged more time and energy into his
organization.
