The '''DC Community Access Network''' (District of Columbia Community Access Network) (DC-CAN) is a 100 gigabit middle mile network<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-01-07 |title=Getting Ultrafast Internet by Ditching the Phone (and Cable) Company - Technology Review |url=http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/mimssbits/27404/?p1=blogs |access-date=2023-11-28 |archive-date=2012-01-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107203048/http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/mimssbits/27404/?p1=blogs |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> funded by the city of Washington, D.C. which will make broadband internet access available to over 250 health, educational, public safety, and other community anchor institutions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-03-09 |title=DC-CAN |url=http://dcnet.dc.gov/DC/DCNET/DC-CAN |access-date=2023-11-28 |archive-date=2012-03-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309152958/http://dcnet.dc.gov/DC/DCNET/DC-CAN |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Corporation |first=Stephen Alexander{{!}}CTO, Senior VP, Products and Technology at Ciena |date=2012-07-16 |title=Is Broadband Must-Have Resource for Economic Recovery? |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2012/07/16/is-broadband-musthave-resource-for-economic-recovery.html |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> The network mainly focuses on underserved areas of the district.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How digital tools are making D.C. a more connected city {{!}} Smart Cities Council |url=https://www.smartcitiescouncil.com/article/how-digital-tools-are-making-dc-more-connected-city |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=www.smartcitiescouncil.com}}</ref>

== History == The project was estimated to cost $25 million<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-08-25 |title=D.C. news in brief |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-news-in-brief/2011/03/23/AFjYR6pC_story.html |access-date=2023-11-28 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> and was partially funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, providing $17 million of federal grants,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Jordan |date=2019-03-12 |title=D.C.'s Digital Landscape: The Broadband Divide Between Ward Lines |url=https://medium.com/seventhirty-dc/d-c-s-digital-landscape-the-broadband-divide-between-ward-lines-8370a3a0a490 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=730DC |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Energy |first=CTC Technology & |date=2010-07-02 |title=CTC Congratulates the District of Columbia on Stimulus Funding |url=https://www.ctcnet.us/news/ctc-congratulates-the-district-of-columbia-on-stimulus-funding/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=ctc technology & energy |language=en-US}}</ref> with the goal to provide affordable broadband Internet service to more than 250 community anchor institutions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Huizenga |first=Martha |date=2013-08-02 |title=DC Access Installs Internet Hotspots for DC's Community Access Network |url=https://www.dcaccess.net/press-releases/dc-access-installs-internet-hotspots-dcs-community-access-network/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=DC Access |language=en-US}}</ref> The funding required the project to be completed by June 30, 2013<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yes We Can - DC Community Access Network {{!}} dcnet |url=https://dcnet.dc.gov/release/yes-we-can-dc-community-access-network |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=dcnet.dc.gov}}</ref>

Construction broke ground in April 2011,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Faster, Cheaper Internet on its Way to D.C. {{!}} DCentric |url=http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/04/faster-cheaper-internet-on-its-way-to-d-c/index.html#more-5336 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=dcentric.wamu.org}}</ref> and the network's first link was activated on 7 December 2011 connecting 24 institutions to the network.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-12-10 |title=D.C. gets 100 gigabit network {{!}} NextBigFuture.com |url=https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2011/12/dc-gets-100-gigabit-network.html |access-date=2023-11-28 |language=en-US}}</ref> As of 2012, the city had laid more than 67 miles of fiber-optic cables.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Videos From DC-Net and DC-CAN Highlights Benenfits All Over the City {{!}} Welcome to Community Networks |url=https://communitynets.org/content/new-videos-dc-net-and-dc-can-highlights-benenfits-all-over-city |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=communitynets.org}}</ref>

== Criticism == The network has been criticised for relying on private companies to provide internet services to customers, as the network only provides the physical cabling for the internet, not the services themselves.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ilsr {{!}} |date=2012-09-24 |title=Is Broadband for All Even Possible? |url=https://ilsr.org/broadband-possible/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=Institute for Local Self-Reliance |language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Broadband Category:Internet in the United States Category:Telecommunications in the United States Category:Network access Category:Communications in Washington, D.C.

{{telecommunications-stub}}