Statewide Wi-Fi hotspots allow for social distancing while using the web

For those without Wi-Fi at home, it’s difficult to look for jobs, file for unemployment, apply for small business loans, or do schoolwork during the quarantine.

But Washington is launching a new effort to bring free Wi-Fi to people in every corner of the state — “drive-in” style.

Through a public-private partnership, the Washington Statewide Broadband Office is setting up hundreds of Wi-Fi hotspots at the parking lots of libraries and other public locations.

The drive-in style means you can access internet in a parking lot from your car or from a bench, without having to go into a building or come into contact with other people.

King County asks residents to wear masks in public, indoor settings

“People can stay in their cars, stay safe, and connect — and we all know how important that is right now,” said Department of Commerce Director Lisa Brown.

Over 400 are up and running now, and 600 are expected to be in place when all is complete.

The Department of Commerce hopes it will help provide internet equity for everyone, and will open up opportunities, such as allowing seniors to visit the doctor via tele-health, without exposing themselves to germs at their clinic.

“Maybe it’s to fill out a form, maybe it’s an unemployment claim, maybe it’s applying for a job, something related to school activities,” Brown said.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal said the hotspots are critical for helping students from financially-challenged backgrounds keep up with their studies remotely.

“We have about 4 percent of all of our students who are homeless, so the closure has been really tough for those students to stay connected,” he said.

For a full list of all Wi-Fi hotpots in the state, as well as a map of hotspots near your home, visit the Department of Commerce’s Hotspot Location Finder.

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