Rapstation.com and Engineered Wireless Solution, Inc. have partnered in a business venture aimed at bringing technology into urban communities. The hip-hop Website founded by Public Enemy front man Chuck D and EWS have formed a corporation by the name of North American Initiative LLC, based in Atlanta, home of EWS.
The corporation plans on partnering with pre-existing programs, such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, to organize what they call value-added wireless technology for business and home use, but for the urban community.
Lathan Hodge, co-founder of Rapstation.com says he is please the endeavor will help to decrease the digital divide between the affluent and those not as fortunate. “Rapstation and EWS will deploy wireless technology to help solve the last mile issue for urban and rural communities throughout North America,” he said in a statement.
Other groups the corporation will work with include: Rural Housing Agency, Department of Commerce, Department of Education, National Conference of Mayors, World Conference of Black Mayors, the White House’s Faith Based Initiative, Native American Initiatives Housing and Schools, National Association of Hispanics and number grass-roots organizations.
The first phase of the project will take place early 2003 in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Baltimore. The services will include: Wireless Internet Computers, Wireless Broadband Access, Distance Learning Applications and a proposal that Chuck D called Edutainment, which will consists of a merger of music and technology as a tool.