Weekly Wrap-Up: August 07, 2015

According new Pew Research Center analysis of survey data, 15% of Americans don’t use the Internet. Who are they? Read this story to learn more. http://pewrsr.ch/1KTd5Vm

Comcast announced this week that it is upgrading its Internet essentials plan and setting a new focus on getting senior citizens connected. Learn more about the changes in this USA Today story.

Facebook unveiled its plan for connecting rural areas to the Internet using balloons to lift drones to an altitude of 90,000 feet (27,400 meters), where they will fly for up to three months and transmit information using lasers.

In a Tech Crunch article, Facebook emphasized that it was not going to be an Internet Service Provider. From an article in Tech Crunch: “Our intention is not to be an operator” Facebook’s VP of engineering Jay Parikh told an assembly of reporters. “We’re not going to be ‘Facebook ISP."”

Finally, EveryoneOn received a nice shot out from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro during HUD’s 50th anniversary celebration.

Working with public, private and non-profit partners like Reba Watkins and EveryoneOn, this effort will accelerate broadband Internet adoption in 28 communities, and help up to 200,000 children gain access to the life-changing opportunities that are available online,” Castro said.