Jul 7 · 3 min read
“The United Nations declared access to the internet to be a human right, and we are working to fulfill that right in Baltimore.” Adam Bouhmad, founder of Project Waves.
During the current COVID-19 pandemic, many residents of Baltimore have been completely dependent on the internet to meet their daily needs. This may take the form of ordering groceries online to minimize exposure, studying for a school assignment, or simply working remotely to have a steady income. Access to a stable internet connection has become a human need to function and prosper in our current society now more than ever.
This pandemic has illuminated many inequities in our current society, one of them being the digital divide. According to a recent Abell Foundation report, almost 2 in 5 households in Baltimore do not have a wireline internet service, including cable, fiber or digital subscriber line service, which is roughly 96,000 households around the city.
To address this inequity, Project Waves is working to install internet access points on Baltimore rooftops. Founded by Baltimore native Adam Bouhmad, Project Wave’s pay-what-you-can system has a goal of connecting 350 households by the end of 2020. So far, they’ve connected 35 households to date.
The intentional human-centered process begins with introducing its mission to communities within Baltimore, and once invited, the team installs internet access points for all families and organizations who express interest.
“ We are trying to work with communities to provide something we believe is very important, which is access to the internet. I see that as access to information and I wholeheartedly believe that is a human right,” said Bouhmad, “our whole model is tackling the issue up front and working with communities in actually bridging these inequities.” “We are not trying to build the next Comcast, and we are not trying to build this monolith.”
Families participating in the program can also elect to share their internet to anyone in range of the WiFi, and in many neighborhoods, these have become de facto WIFI hotspots. The community internet service provider (ISP) is currently installed in the neighborhoods of Sharp Leadenhall, Park Heights, UMB Community Engagement Center, Lakeland, Hollins Market, and Lakeland.
Project Waves recently received grant funding from the Abell Foundation and the National Science Foundation. The staff is growing exponentially. A micro team at the beginning of 2019, has now turned into 13 full time employees.
COVID-19 has highlighted many inequities in our city, which has also shined a spotlight on the people willing to address them head-on, even during a pandemic. Adam Bouhmad and the Project Waves Team continue to fight for internet access throughout Baltimore, one family at a time.
How Can You Support Project Waves?
Check out their website or email contact@projectwaves.net
Want to Learn More About Digital Equity in Baltimore?
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Thank you to the collaborators of Stories to Support for contributing to this piece.
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