ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando City Council has approved nearly $125,000 in funding through the “Accelerate Orlando” initiative to create Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the Parramore community.
The project is part of the city’s Future-Ready Master Plan, which aims to make internet access more accessible for residents.
District 5 Commissioner Shan Rose said the lack of reliable internet in Parramore became a pressing issue during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We saw during COVID that our families did not have access to the internet,” Rose said. “This is the first step in planning how to create opportunities for Wi-Fi throughout our communities.”
According to U.S. Census data, about 50% of Parramore residents lack quality internet access. The city plans to install routers on streetlight poles and bus stops, though exact locations have not been finalized.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
Community advocates Lawanna Gelzer and Aston Mack emphasized the importance of ensuring the project meets the needs of Parramore residents.
“Is it going to be available for everyone, or just for those in areas where infrastructure can support it?” Mack asked.
“The city should listen to the people in the community, the advocates fighting for their best interests,” Gelzer said.
The city has contracted a planning firm and a solar design company for the project and hopes to have the hotspots operational within a year.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: