With Stay at Home mandates due to the COVID-19 pandemic, online access has become more essential than ever. Unfortunately, many people don’t have reliable access to the Internet. In an effort to help close the digital divide, The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), the City of Sacramento and the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) have teamed up to equip “WiFi Buses” with free wireless super hotspots in communities with limited high-speed internet access during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ten SacRT buses are being equipped with free internet equipment provided free of charge by project partners: Aruba, AT&T, Cradlepoint, Sierra Wireless, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless to offer free high-speed connectivity with a range of up to 1,800 feet. Buses will provide 3.5 hours of wireless broadband service at two locations each day.
The first three hotspots go live on Monday, May 4. Seven additional buses will be deployed to other “digital desert” communities across Sacramento beginning the week of May 11 to promote more opportunities for distance learning, telework and telehealth.
Find a location near you at www.thewifibus.com. Remember to always maintain physical distancing while accessing the network.
