Wildwood Completes Phase 1 of Internet Access Project

Wildwood announced on April 5 that phase 1 of its Internet Access Project has been completed. According to a press release, the project’s goal was to “bridge the digital divide” and provide high-speed broadband internet to its residents.

“This solves a 17-year problem for our city, and the implementation has been seamless,” Mayor Jim Bowlin said in the release.

The city had entered into an agreement with Spectrum in December 2021 to design, install, and operate high-speed broadband services for the residents of Wildwood. The project used an investment of $6.75 million from federal stimulus funds provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Phase 1 of the project encompassed 16 maps, serving over 2,000 homes in Wildwood. These homes now have the opportunity to sign up for internet speeds up to 1 GB.

Phase 2 to Provide Internet Service to Underserved Homes

Wildwood is planning phase 2 of the project now, which aims to provide high-speed internet service to the last remaining underserved homes in the city.