Charlotte Mecklenburg Library brings Wi-Fi to West Boulevard

An essential component of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's mission is to improve lives and build a stronger community by removing barriers to accessing information and critical resources. Enter MeckTech Connect.

Bridging the digital divide, MeckTech Connect is a program bringing free wireless internet service to over 800 homes in the West Boulevard corridor. While this area is rich in people and culture, this community's internet adoption lags behind the rest of the city of Charlotte by 50 percent. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s West Boulevard location has been active in digital literacy work for many years. Still, the Library aims to be a leader in providing digital equity and digital literacy to communities with fewer resources. MeckTech Connect is a step in the right direction.

The Library’s efforts to lead in digital equity are matched by their partnership with Open Broadband, an essential partner as the internet service provider for MeckTech Connect. They are a regional internet service provider that contributes to underserved communities. Work on the MeckTech Connect infrastructure is currently underway in the West Boulevard community. In addition to the partnership with Open Broadband, the Library was awarded a grant and funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and The Knight Foundation. Additional support from organizations such as bloom., City Startup Labs, Hack & Hustle Academy, RowdyOrb.it, and the West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition helped make this effort possible.

MeckTech Connect is in the business of filling the digital divide and providing opportunities beyond just internet service. The Library is excited to lead this pilot in the West Boulevard corridor.

For more information about MeckTech Connect, please visit www.mecktechconnect.org.