It began with a simple idea. With offices serving every one of Washington’s 39 counties as well as the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, why couldn’t Washington State University Extension open high-speed wireless connections right outside their doors to help students access online resources during statewide social distancing efforts?.
Sparked by lessons learned during Extension’s 2014 Oso mudslide recovery work, and championed by the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS), WSU Provost’s Office, and the WSU Office of External Affairs and Government Relations, the Drive-In Wi-Fi Hotspots Project quickly drew support from the Washington State Broadband Office, Microsoft Corporation, Avista, Washington State Library, a division of the Secretary of State, and other partners.
Launched in late April, the Drive-In WiFi partnership has begun placing broadband access points at WSU’s county and tribal Extension centers, as well as schools, libraries, and community centers across the state.
“As we stay home to stay safe, our students and neighbors are going online to continue their education and support their families and communities,” said André-Denis Wright, dean of CAHNRS. “With Extension’s statewide reach, we saw a powerful opportunity to strengthen the digital connection, especially for people and places with limited access.”