The Cleveland Foundation and a number of community partners announced a major new program that seeks to bridge the “Digital Divide” in Cuyahoga County. High-speed internet hotspots will be available to check out from several library branches around the county.
Cleveland Public Library (CPL) cardholders can access free, unlimited, portable high-speed internet WiFi hotspots from all 28 CPL locations. Cuyahoga County Public Library cardholders can access the hotspots from four branches: Garfield Heights, Maple Heights, Southeast and Warrensville Heights.
The hot spots can be checked out just like a book or DVD and will provide internet access from almost anywhere to any WiFi-enabled device, such as a phone, tablet or laptop.
Below are some for the guidelines for the program, from the Cuyahoga County Public Library website:
- Hotspots can be returned to any Cuyahoga County Public Library branch.
- Hotspots can only be picked up at the Garfield Heights, Maple Heights, Southeast and Warrensville Heights branches.
- The loan period for hotspots is 21 days.
- The daily overdue fine for a hotspot is $0.10 per day.
- The replacement fee for a hotspot is $25.00.
- Hotspots that are greater than 10 days overdue will be disabled remotely.
- Hotspots are renewable if no one else is waiting for one.
- Up to 10 devices can be connected to a hotspot at the same time.
- Simple instructions and tech support contact information is included with each hotspot.
Read more about the program and learn how to check out a hotspot here.
The new program is part of efforts to bring digital equity to the county.
The announcement was made at the Cleveland Public Library Woodland Branch Tuesday morning by the Cleveland Foundation in partnership with CHN Housing Partners, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Cleveland Public Library, Cuyahoga County, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Huntington Bank and an organization new to Cleveland.
Watch the full announcement below:
