RAPID: Responding to COVID-19 using High-speed Mesh Wireless Community Internet

该项目通过调查马里兰州巴尔的摩市的有效和高效的社区方法来应对COVID-19，以部署免费的宽带互联网，并在面临大规模紧急情况时为低收入人群创建可信的开放式在线教育，职业和通信资源。这一方法借鉴了关于公平宽带互联网接入的重要性和基于社区的解决办法弥合数字鸿沟的潜力的现有研究。项目结果将为制定和使用社区主导的方法提供信息，以满足危机期间和危机后弱势群体的技术和信息需求。具体来说，它将研究创建一个值得信赖的技术基础设施，利用当地合作伙伴关系为社区提供免费或低成本的互联网。它还将告知如何最大限度地发挥互联网连接的潜力，以保持教育和就业活动的连续性，减少低收入人口的社会孤立。该项目将通过在马里兰州的巴尔的摩市部署一系列5 GHz频谱上的点对点（PtP）和点对多点（PtMP）连接来创建社区无线网络（CWNs）。这些安装在合作伙伴站点的接入点（PoP）上的多输入多输出（MIMO）无线电将为有需要的家庭提供免费、安全、高吞吐量的链路。随着这一机会的建立，该项目将策划和提供支持资源，以促进教育的连续性，扩大远程工作的职业机会和虚拟社交方法。我们将通过干预前后的调查以及与持份者的远程访谈，研究这些干预措施的影响，以评估在COVID-19疫情期间和之后，免费高带宽互联网对低收入家庭获得在线教育、就业和社会资源的影响。此外，在项目结束时，参与家庭和社区合作伙伴将在社区焦点小组中为今后实施类似项目提出思考和建议。项目的调查结果旨在进一步说明如何在危机期间和危机后立即利用基层、社区、技术获取办法满足弱势群体的信息需求。 该项目与智能和互联社区计划高度相关，因为它表明社会和技术研究的紧密结合以及强大的社区参与将能够在这一危机和潜在的其他危机中对改善弱势社区的生活质量产生重大影响。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响进行评估，被认为值得支持审查标准。

This project responds to COVID-19 by investigating an effective and efficient community-based approach in Baltimore City, Maryland to deploying free, broadband Internet and creating trusted open-access online education, career, and communication resources for low-income populations in the face of large-scale emergencies. This approach builds on existing research on the importance of equitable broadband Internet access and the potential of community-based solutions to bridging the digital divide. Project findings will inform the creation and use of community-led approaches to meet the technical and informational needs of vulnerable populations during and immediately following times of crisis. Specifically, it will research the creation of a trusted technical infrastructure that leverages local partnerships to provide free or low-cost Internet to communities. It will also inform how to maximize the potential of Internet connectivity to maintain continuity of education and employment activities and reduce social isolation among low-income populations. This project will create a Community Wireless Networks (CWNs) through the deployment in Baltimore City, Maryland of a series of Point-to-Point (PtP) and Point-to-Multipoint (PtMP) connections over the 5GHz spectrum. These Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) radios mounted on Points of Presence (PoP) at partner sites will provide free and secure, high throughput links to families in need. As this access is created, the project will then curate and provide support resources to facilitate the continuity of education, the expansion of teleworking career opportunities, and virtual socialization methods. The impact of these interventions will be studied through pre- and post-intervention surveys as well as remote interviews with stakeholders to evaluate the impact of having free high-bandwidth Internet on low-income families’ access to online educational, employment, and social resources both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, at the conclusion of the project participating families and community partners will offer reflections and suggestions for the future implementation of similar projects in a community focus group. Project findings seek to further inform how to meet the informational needs of vulnerable populations using a grass-roots, community-based, technology-access approach during and immediately following times of crisis. This project is highly relevant to Smart and Connected Communities program as it demonstrates tight integration of social and technology research and strong community engagement will be able to have significant impact improving quality of life in vulnerable communities in this and potentially other crises.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.