Obama Announces 'ConnectHome' Initiative While Speaking In Durant

President Barack Obama spoke at Durant High School Wednesday evening, discussing the link between technology and economic prosperity, and laid out a new plan on bringing internet access to low income families and rural areas.   

Addressing a crowd of members of the Choctaw Nation and invited guests, President Obama spoke about the importance of expanding economic opportunities to all communities.

During his speech, Obama announced the pilot program ConnectHome. The program will soon launch in 27 cities, and in the Choctaw Nation, and initially will provide broadband internet access to approximately 275,000 low-income households.

“The internet is not a luxury. It’s a necessity,” the President said. “We’re going to take another step to close the digital divide in America.”

The program, with the help of several companies, internet service providers, and non-profit organization, are teaming together with the government to provide internet access, training, digital literacy programs and devices to residents in assisted housing units.

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“While high-speed internet access is a given…for millions of Americans, it’s still out for reach for too many people; especially for people in low-income and rural communities.”

One reason behind creating the program came from revealing figures the President touched on during his speech.   

“More than 90-percent of households headed by a college graduate use the internet. Fewer than half of households with less than a high school education are plugged in to the internet. So the people who could benefit the most from the latest technology are the least likely to have it.”  

Learn more about the ConnectHome Initiative. 

On Thursday, Obama will travel to El Reno and visit the Federal Correctional Center. There he will meet with law enforcement officials and inmates. He is also planning to conduct an interview for a VICE  documentary on the topic of the American Criminal Justice System. The President's trip to the correctional center will mark the first time a sitting president has ever toured a federal prison.