Percent of Households with Broadband Access

"Note: Some racial and ethnic categories are suppressed to avoid misleading estimates when the relative standard error exceeds 30%. Margins of error are estimated at the 90% confidence level. Data Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year Estimates Why This Matters Today, people rely on high-speed internet to search for jobs, work remotely, receive medical care, access education, connect with the community, read the news, and more. Despite our reliance on broadband, many homes lack access to high-speed internet and the opportunities it makes possible, whether due to affordability or a lack of infrastructure. Black and Latino/a children are disproportionately likely to live in homes without broadband. This can lead to negative long-term educational and professional outcomes including worse grades and being under-prepared for the growing number of jobs that require digital skills. The District's Response The District provides free Wi-Fi at key community anchor locations throughout the city. The Community Internet Program (CIP) leverages government buildings to provide free or reduced-cost internet to households who qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The DC Community Access Network (DC-CAN) project encourages public-private partnership in delivering affordable broadband services to residents and businesses in underserved areas of the District (in particular Wards 5, 7, and 8).