Philly Tech Justice

“Internet Essentials does not meet the needs of our students today” @comcast needs to do better!

Educator and activist @zfwright is rightfully pointing out that more than 15 M students will start school this year without internet access. #LoggedOut National Day of Action

Suggesting to students or anyone else that #ParkingLotWifi is an option for essential internet is not acceptable in this crisis. Join us in calling on @PhillyMayor to close the #DigitalDivide

Then sign on to this platform (phillytechjustice.org) which includes a list of actions @phillymayor should immediately take to get Philly's most vulnerable residents online. Thank you all for coming to my TedTalk.

In conclusion, when it comes to Philly’s digital divide, #ParkingLotWifi does nothing to meet the needs of our residents. If you're reading this and agree, post pics of what #ParkingLotWifi looks like in your neighborhood. Instructions: phillytechjustice.org/parkin…

So, @PhillyMayor @SDPHite and @comcast, COVID-19 proves that the internet is a public utility, not a luxury. It’s time y'all create a comprehensive solution to finally get everyone online. Cuz this aint it.

And as a Black person in America, I know that our kids are more likely to be perceived as threat by everyone. So telling them to "loiter" outside a local business to access broadband, is kind of dangerous. RIP Ahmaud Arbery.

I was able to sit in an empty part of the parking lot though. There, I got some work done, but I couldn't help but feel like a spectacle. People going to the grocery store stared at me. Like what is that dude doing?

My next destination was to Shoprite down the street. What a vast and spacious classroom! I found two benches, but they were located within feet of high traffic sidewalks. But no murder hornets, so that’s a plus.

So I took my new laptop to another place with accessible internet: the local gas station on 52nd and Lancaster. It was busy, but I found a nook where I might be able to camp. This time, my back was towards a busy street as cars drove by. Nope!

I found the first spot on the side of a daycare. With no place to sit except the sidewalk, I turned a dumpster into a standing desk, where I tried to do work but was distracted. My back was towards a busy street and the sidewalk was small. Plus it smelled bad.

Without internet access, I couldn't look up the map of open #ParkingLotWifi hotspots in my Black West Philly neighborhood. So I asked my neighbor, who's also a mom, where she’d send her kid. I will now refer to her as temp-Mom.

Then BAM! @PHLschools suggested parking lot wifi…. We were all like, ex-squeeze me? So long story short, this morning I decided show y’all what #ParkingLotWifi looks like. I grabbed my mask and gloves, checked outside for murder hornets, and was on my way.

Things started to look up when @PHLschools announced a plan to get free Chromebooks in the hands of students and we just knew they’d figure out how to get students online, so our babies could learn.

So, we at @mediamobilizing and Philly Tech Justice have been concerned about the #DigitalDivide ever since @PhillyMayor announced the stay at home order. Philly ranks 2nd worst among the country's 25 largest cities for home access to broadband. No secret here.

Hey y'all! Gather around, it’s #ParkingLotWifi storytime! @PhillyMayor, @SDPHite, @comcast, we saved you 3 seats up front. Now get your quarantine snacks ready. 🙃

Tune in at 6pm for a special storytime thread from @devrenw, Policy Organizer with @mediamobilizing, as he embarks on a quest to find #ParkingLotWifi while social distancing and watching out for murder hornets. @PhillyMayor @SDPHite and @comcast you NEED to see this.

.@PhillyMayor students can learn like this, workers can’t work, and no one should be expected to go outside to access #ParkingLotWifi during the #COVID pandemic. Demand better for all Philadelphians and sign onto our demands: phillytechjustice.org