Philadelphia

Utilities can soon cut off nonpaying customers, Pa. says, but the poorest customers are protected

The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PUC) voted 3-1 to terminate the shutoffs but put safeguards in place to protect the most vulnerable. According to the article, “The PUC’s order will still prohibit utilities from shutting off “protected customers” whose income is no more than...Read more

Free internet access available for some now struggling to afford it, city says

Philadelphia is extending it's free PHLConnectED program, which provides no cost connections, to families who have children recieving special education services or are English-language learners, and those who participate in public benefit programs with income qualifications 

City...Read more

Philadelphia Phase 4 Rental Assistance Application

This artifact is the phase 4 application for rental assistance in Philadelphia. This program is meant to assist tenants in Philadelphia who are experiencing financial hardships due to COVID-19. Tenants are eligible for up to 18 months of assistance total.

In order to apply, individuals...Read more

Philadelphia School District Moving Forward With Plans To Return Students To Classroom Before Thanksgiving

It seems my field of research (internet insecurity in Philadelphia) has led me down a path of focusing primarily on how schools are reopening.

This article discusses the plans Philadelphia has in order to get students back into school on November 17th, and their recent reaffirmation of...Read more

New survey designed to see just how connected Philadelphia actually is

This article describes a survey the city of Philadelphia is plannnig to condut on conjunction with Wilco Electronic Systems. The survey is planned to be a phone survey of 2,500 people.

John Horrigan, former research director of the National Broadband Plan at the Federal Communications...Read more

Squatting for survival in Philadelphia: What it’s like to live in a ‘takeover house’

The article goes in-depth about the history of squatting in the city of Philadelphia and the situations that lead to squatting in cities like Philadelphia with high unemployment, homelessness, transient or intermittent housing, and high percentages of low-income households (Chicago for example...Read more

How to lower your energy bills

Since many people are changing their behavior during COVID-19 to reduce their energy consumption, the article opens by stating that the combination of colder weather and COVID-19 will require people to warm their homes while using less energy. As many other articles here state, energy...Read more

Philly promises public school students will have internet access as coronavirus keeps classes online

This article discusses the plan by Philadelphia School District Superintendant Hite regarding internet access for students in the city. Philadelphia's return to school plan requries students continue virtual education until at least November 17th. However, parts of school buildings, libraries,...Read more

Philadelphia water bills will go up Wednesday. Here’s why, and how it could have been worse.

On September 1st, 2021, Philadelphians will begin to receive water bills that reflect a 3.6% rate increase, as Philadelphia's 2021 water rate case has been approved by the PUC. Over two years, the rate will increase by 10.3% for residential customers. The water rate increase in Philadelphia is...Read more

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