Approximately 90,000 residents lack access to broadband in San Jose — the heart of Silicon Valley — and the shift to virtual services and learning during COVID-19 exacerbated deep inequities felt especially by low-income and communities of color. The San José Public Library was designated as city lead for the development and mobilization of connectivity and digital literacy resources in a manner that centers equity and targets resources towards those in-need, while also making resources available citywide.

SJ Access is an innovative digital inclusion initiative that addresses connectivity and helps residents connect and stay safe online. Key program components are:

• Manage three and build five community Wi-Fi networks serving 305,000 people
• Build outdoor Wi-Fi at 24 city sites in high need areas
• Circulate 12,800 hotspots to 32 school districts and 3,000 hotspots to public
• Develop/host digital literacy programming and tech support for all residents, with laptop/tablet and hotspot device-lending kit and loan-to-own refurbished devices.

SJ Access achieved high levels of success in year one:

• Three existing Wi-Fi networks each have ~35,000 unduplicated logins monthly; 89,000 residents
• Five new Wi-Fi networks advancing in design/construction phases; 216,000 residents
• 24 outdoor networks at city sites actively used
• Student hotspot recipients attended 93% of their classes
• Library hotspots circulated 9,872 times; hotspot checkout was ≥99%
• Over 600 residents completed the full track of digital literacy programming in English, Spanish and Vietnamese