San Francisco Sun

San Francisco’s Fiber to Housing program has received national recognition for its efforts to provide reliable, free high-speed internet to residents of affordable and public housing. The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) named the Fiber to Housing program as the 2024 Community Broadband Project of the Year, acknowledging the City's initiatives to promote digital equity for low-income San Franciscans. By July 2025, the program aims to connect over 30,000 units of affordable and public housing, more than doubling the current number.

“We are working aggressively to provide low-income families with access to high-speed internet to ensure that every family in San Francisco has access to online resources for everyday needs that so many of us take for granted, like paying bills or doing homework,” said Mayor London Breed. “Thousands of people are now connected thanks to the City’s Fiber to Housing program, but we know more San Franciscans need the support. I thank City partners for their continued commitment to help close the digital divide and provide fast, reliable internet access for so many families in need.”

“I want to congratulate the City’s Fiber-to-Housing team on this much-deserved recognition. Together, the team connected thousands of residents and students to critical health, financial and educational opportunities during the pandemic and is on track to connect a total of 30,000 units of housing by the end of the year,” said City Administrator Carmen Chu. “As technology becomes more ubiquitous in our lives, and as the internet continues to become a standard for communicating information, efforts like these bring us closer to closing the digital divide one door at a time."

The Fiber to Housing program is a cross-departmental collaboration between the Department of Technology (DT), the Mayor’s Office on Housing and Community Development (MOHCD), and the Housing Authority. It seeks to deliver free high-speed broadband to all residents of affordable and public housing in San Francisco. The initiative helps connect some of San Francisco’s most vulnerable residents with educational, cultural, employment, and healthcare resources available online.

Accessing the internet has become crucial in today's digital age, especially since COVID-19. According to an American Community Survey report, 8.4% of San Francisco households lack broadband internet. The city’s 2019 Digital Equity Plan found that households without broadband were predominantly seniors, people of color, low-income individuals or Limited English Proficient (LEP) residents. The Fiber-to-Housing program was initiated as a coordinated effort against this digital divide.

Currently serving over 14,300 units of affordable housing and 1,500 beds at homeless shelters across 115 sites; an additional 10,000 units are expected online in this fiscal year with a goal set at serving 30,000 units by July 2025.

"The Department of Technology works hard not only supporting over 30 thousand employees within city limits but also directly assisting residents through programs like Fiber-to-Housing," said Michael Makstman Interim City Chief Information Officer (CIO) & Director DT "I am excited about future prospects striving towards connecting every resident within affordable/public housings via high-speed connections."

“MOHCD remains committed towards providing equitable digital tech access throughout SF including advancing such within affordable housings," added Dan Adams Director MOHCD "Fiber-to-Housing ensures those living under limited means have necessary tools succeed digitally today.”

"The evident digital divide amplified critically during pandemics showed how essential stable/reliable connectivity is among underserved communities," stated Tonia Lediju CEO Housing Authority SF "We remain dedicated promoting social equity fostering thriving inclusive environments ensuring our populace stays connected vibrantly healthy."

Since its inception back in '02 DT built/maintained municipally-owned fiber optic networks catering towards meeting workforce demands expanding coverage reaching fire/police stations safety radio sites health clinics/hospitals libraries offices traffic signals etc., thus enabling numerous affordably housed units come online annually through ongoing expansions.

"We're incredibly grateful witnessing transformative developments witnessed amongst SRO community residences via installed fibers" expressed Lisette Cruise Associate Director Property Management overseeing Clayton Hotel Swiss American Tower Hotel "Reliable connections opened up unprecedented opportunities enhancing quality life learning growth appreciatively thanking involved parties bringing vital resources here.”

The NATOA Community Broadband/Digital Equity Awards recognize innovative governmental/business/local community programs nationwide honoring municipal projects/initiatives supporting scalable infrastructure affordability end-users alike.

Further details regarding SF's Fiber-to-Housing Program can be accessed via Department Technology website.