WHEREAS, The City of Chicago has the responsibility to ensure the delivery of vital services to all it's residents; and
WHEREAS, Internet access enables greater access to information, resources, expression, and community; and
WHEREAS, the United Nations Human Rights Council, among other organizations, have included internet access and related issues as a core advocacy area; and
WHEREAS, United States Census Bureau has published data reflecting significant inequality in internet access in different neighborhoods in the city, with lower rates of internet access concentrated on the south and west sides of the City; and
WHEREAS, The community of Englewood has only 44% of households with internet access, and neighborhoods that lag behind average rates of internet access in Chicago include Austin, West Garfield Park, Fuller Park, South Shore, Auburn Gresham, Riverdale, and West Englewood; and
WHEREAS, Internet access is foundational to many beneficial activities, such as: access to various news sources, access to resources to help with homework, access to job postings, and access to navigation tools; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council reaffirm the importance for all citizens to have opportunities for internet access.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council do hereby call for a hearing before the Committee on Economic, Capital, and Technology Development to consider appropriate actions and incentives to ensure equitable access to the internet for all citizens of the City of Chicago.