HUD Proposes Mandatory Broadband Internet in Multifamily Housing

The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) is proposing a rule that would mandate the installation of a broadband Internet infrastructure into most HUD-financed multifamily housing developments, either during their construction or if the properties undergo substantial rehabilitation.

In a press statement, HUD insisted that the proposed rule would ultimately “help states and local governments address the need for broadband access and climate change for low- and moderate-income residents in the communities they serve.” The rule is a continuation of the department’s ConnectHome initiative to extend affordable broadband access to families living in HUD-assisted housing.

“By ensuring that future HUD funded properties are broadband ready, we are making long term investments in the 21st Century global economy that go beyond modems and laptops,” said HUD Secretary Julián Castro. “We want to give our residents and their children the opportunity to bridge the digital divide by connecting to the world of opportunity.”