To get online, residents need equitable access to a sufficiently fast and reliable internet connection. By adding more public internet options, expanding our fiber footprint, gathering robust data on connectivity, and promoting assistance programs, we’re working to ensure all residents in our community have this access.
South Bend’s Current State:
South Bend has low levels of broadband (internet with speeds of at least 25 Mbps upload/ 3 Mbps download) availability and adoption when compared to peer cities. This means that our residents are less likely to have high-speed internet service, and when they do, it is often slower and less affordable than in other communities.
In South Bend, only 76.1% of households have a broadband subscription. This is below our peer cities.
South Bend also sees particularly low availability of fiber internet, which uses fiber optic cables to transmit information at the speed of light. It is the fastest, most reliable, and most future-proof (meaning it will be high-speed even as technology advances) form of connectivity available. Only 45.9% of South Bend’s residents are served by fiber providers. Again, this is well below our peer cities.
The map below shows how much of our city is without available fiber.
The need for connectivity in South Bend is especially pronounced on the west side, which is disproportionately low-income, Black, and Hispanic. Achieving digital equity in South Bend will mean focusing particularly on these communities in our city, which see significantly lower rates of broadband subscription and fiber access. In some west side neighborhoods, more than 40% of households do not have an internet subscription. Explore the map below which highlights the intersection of race and internet access in our city.
Notably, 11% of South Bend residents rely exclusively on mobile data for their internet access, comparable to the national average (2020 American Community Survey). For these residents, who are more likely to have lower incomes, we also need to ensure that South Bend’s mobile internet is fast, reliable, and affordable.
Connectivity Goals:
- Triple the number of South Bend Open Wi-Fi access points by the end of 2023.
- Expand South Bend’s fiber footprint to serve 90% of census blocks by 2030.
- Increase at-home internet subscriptions to at least 85% by 2025.
- Reach at least 75% participation in the Affordable Connectivity Program by the end of 2022.
- Receive Indiana Broadband Ready Community designation by the end of 2022.
- Win $2M in state and/or federal funding for broadband expansion programs by 2025.
- Include broadband-related questions in the City’s Community Survey and launch a citywide speed test campaign, collecting 600 responses for each by the end of 2022.
- Publish the city’s first mobile internet speed map, showing coverage and speeds of major carriers throughout South Bend, by the end of 2022.
What we’re doing now:
To reach these goals, we are engaged in projects and making commitments listed below. Please refer to this page often for updates as our efforts progress and we launch new initiatives.
Expanding South Bend Open Wi-Fi
- In 2022, we launched the largest expansion of Open Wi-Fi, South Bend’s public internet network, since its creation. With more public access points around town, residents without broadband subscriptions can access a secure, reliable internet connection at no cost.
- After a period of public nominations and review, we are thrilled to announce 31 new Open Wi-Fi sites! Installation for these sites are already underway and will continue through mid-2023.
- We are on pace to more than triple the Open Wi-Fi footprint by 2023, growing from 56 access points to 184.
- Click here to learn more about our Open Wi-Fi expansion.
Promoting the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
- The Affordable Connectivity Program is a federal assistance program offering $30/month discounts to eligible households on broadband service.
- We are leveraging community partnerships (including through Citywide Classroom and the South Bend Connectivity Coalition) as well as the City’s Outreach Team to promote signups.
- Click here to learn more about signing up for the ACP.
Surveying Internet Speed and Affordability
- To improve South Bend’s in-home broadband, we first need to understand its current state. Federal data is helpful but paints an incomplete picture of how much residents are paying for broadband and how fast their service is.
- This year, we launched a citywide Home Internet Speed Test to crowdsource data on residents’ broadband experience.
- We also included questions on broadband access and affordability for the first time in the biennial South Bend Community Survey.
- We are excited to share the results from these outreach efforts by the end of 2022!
Measuring Mobile Data in South Bend
- Given that 11% of South Bend families rely exclusively on mobile data for their internet access, understanding the speeds and signal strength that these residents are experiencing is critical to ensuring they have meaningful access to digital resources.
- In partnership with Notre Dame’s Wireless Institute, we are currently deploying devices on solid waste vehicles to analyze mobile data speed and quality for major carriers throughout South Bend. This analysis, which will also help the City optimize its own operations with mobile devices, will be housed in the City’s Open Data Portal by the end of 2022.
Applying for State and Federal Broadband Funding
- In 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allocated $65 billion to broadband spending, much of which will be available to cities like ours through grant applications. We are eager to maximize our funding from these grant opportunities to increase digital access in South Bend.
- In addition to forthcoming funding opportunities from the state of Indiana, we completed an application for the $1 billion Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure grant program in partnership with ChoiceLight, our region’s dark fiber provider.
- Our team is eager to continue collaborating with the State Broadband Office to engage with community leaders and coordinate goals and partnerships regarding these and other funding opportunities.
Connecting South Bend Students
- Since 2020, the City has supported the South Bend Community School Corporation (SBCSC) and enFocus in administering Citywide Classroom, a program providing students and their families with in-home broadband or mobile hotspots at no cost. Citywide Classroom was launched to address the immediate need for distance learning at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even as distance learning has decreased, the program has provided essential access for students and their families as more daily activities have shifted to digital settings.
- In 2022, the City invested $150,000 in the next generation of hotspots for South Bend students: a private LTE network owned and operated by SBCSC. In partnership with the South Bend Connectivity Coalition, this project leverages advances in spectrum policy and technology to give the schools a sustainable, reliable, and secure network they can use to connect students. The City will use additional capacity on the network to pilot smart city solutions.
Becoming a Broadband Ready Community
- The City is actively working to become a Broadband Ready Community in partnership with the Indiana Broadband Office.
- This process has involved coordinating community partnerships and aligning internal procedures to ensure that South Bend handles broadband projects efficiently and effectively.
- We expect to become St. Joseph County’s first Broadband Ready Community by the end of 2022.
Continue to explore our Digital Equity Roadmap below for additional initiatives and resident resources!
