ADDRESSES DIGITAL DESERTS- Access to high-speed / broadband digital services has been an issue for many neighborhoods in Shreveport and yesterday Mayor Adrian Perkins held a press event to announce the launch of Shreveport’s Universal Digital Access – a program designed to help bridge the digital divide and address what Perkins has called “Digital Deserts” in certain Shreveport neighborhoods.
The free digital access service will be available at three Shreveport Memorial Libraries that were selected after internet sensors placed on garbage trucks mapped out underserved areas and determined which neighborhoods were deemed “digital deserts”. Cellular towers have been put atop three library branches so far, they are: Hollywood/Union Avenue Branch, Atkins Branch, and Cedar Grove-Line Avenue Branch. More libraries will be added later on according to Perkins.
The towers will provide free Wi-Fi to homes and businesses within range, perhaps a thousand properties near each hot spot, according to officials. Those living near these libraries can get a home internet kit on a first-come/first-served basis but they’ll need a library card for the program. Perkins said providing Universal Digital Access became a clear need, especially during the pandemic.
“That is when we realized how critical broadband was to our communities, because we had so many young people that were a part of the Caddo parish schools that were going back home into neighborhoods without access to that reliable internet, ” Perkins explained.
The Universal Digital Access Program was part of a Perkins campaign promise and it rolls out November 1st. It was funded by the American Rescue Plan and grants from the Community Foundation of North Louisiana. The program will initially serve 1,000 families and city officials plan to expand the service to more libraries in the future.
