A computer in every home
Pritzker praises public-private partnership to provide recycled computers to 1.1M Illinois households
While working to expand broadband to rural and urban areas across the state, Gov. Pritzker has announced a new program to get computers to the estimated 1.1 million households without one. (Shutterstock)
By Ted Cox
The governor announced a new public-private partnership Wednesday to provide recycled computers to the 1.1 million Illinois homes without one.
The new Computer Equity Network grows out of the $420 million plan to Connect Illinois by providing broadband across the state by 2024. It basically sets out to put the computer boots on the ground to take advantage of the expanded access.
“We don’t stand a chance of achieving equity if it isn’t accessible to everyone,” Gov. Pritzker said as part of the daily coronavirus briefing at the Thompson Center in Chicago. He pointed out that the pandemic has widened gaps in the so-called digital divide, with both urban and rural residents sometimes struggling to get online, even as internet access is increasingly critical for working online, remote education, and telehealth.
“Today I’m announcing a first-of-its-kind statewide initiative to put computers into the hands of those who need them — the Connect Illinois Computer Equity Network,” Pritzker said. “This new collaboration between our Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the nonprofit PCs for People will provide refurbished and modernized computers to those in need.
“Today we are kicking this off,” he added, “by providing the first 20,000 devices to families in need all across the state. As we grow the program, it’s businesses and philanthropists that will make this program successful. In the spirit of the holiday season, I’m asking Illinois companies to join us in this effort, to help build on this initial down payment. When your upgrade cycle gets renewed and your old technology no longer fits the needs of your company, you can donate it, and it will be upgraded for use by a family in need.”
“We don’t stand a chance of achieving equity if it isn’t accessible to everyone.”
Gov. Pritzker (Illinois.gov)
PCs for People is a 22-year-old national nonprofit firm specializing in collecting old computers through what it calls a “zero-landfill approach,” then safely scrubbing them clean, both physically and technically, to prepare them for reuse. Just since the start of the pandemic in March, it claims to have served more than 84,000 people, 45,000 of them children.
It’s been recycling computers in the Metro East area since September, with support from the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, and it will now expand to another distribution hub in Cook County, with the help of $250,000 from the Jewish United Fund and the leadership of the county’s Council on Digital Equity.
“The pandemic has laid bare the tremendous inequities in our communities, including access to technology and digital accessibility,” said Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. “This is particularly important during a time when residents are dependent on technology for remote work and education.”
Pointing out that one computer is frequently not enough for families with parents working from home and children engaged in remote education, she called it a “critical initiative to help narrow the digital divide in Illinois.”
The initial 20,000 computers is just a start, so a key part of the program is encouraging businesses and even individuals to donate their seemingly obsolete or newly upgraded computers. Pritzker directed interested companies and individuals to the illinois.gov/computerequitynetwork website for details on both donating and receiving computers.
“The pandemic has shown millions of homes do not have the connectivity needed for education, information, and remote work,” said PCs for People CEO Casey Sorensen. He added that the goal is “to get devices and support to thousands of residents across the state at a time of great need.”
Erin Guthrie, director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, said it was the central part of a three-pronged approach to deploy refurbished computers, while also providing digital literacy programming and workforce development.
According to a news release put out by the Governor’s Office, “Illinois households without access to a working computer or internet or those seeking to donate are encouraged to visit PCs for People’s website to register and learn more about how they can request a computer. To be eligible, residents must be below 200 percent of the poverty level or enrolled in an income-based government assistance program, such as free and reduced school lunch, Medicaid,” and food stamps, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.