FRIDAY · OCTOBER 2, 2026ORANGE MOUND · MEMPHIS

A CONNECTED COMMUNITY CORRIDOR

Orange Mound
goes online.

Connecting 901 marked the first neighborhood activation of Smart Memphis Fiber—connecting familiar public places with faster internet, free public Wi-Fi and technology access.

See what launched ↓ Open official event record

This recap separates launch-day facts from future network goals. Each headline figure links to a public source.

A speaker at the Connecting 901 launch, with local news microphones at the podium. — LOCAL COVERAGE · OCT. 2Open Action News 5 report

3public places linked in Orange Mound OPEN SOURCECity of Memphis event record

2technology labs for seniors and youth OPEN SOURCECity launch announcement

116planned citywide public Wi-Fi anchor sites OPEN SOURCEDaily Memphian launch report

85%planned citywide affordable-fiber reach OPEN SOURCECity of Memphis launch release

LAUNCH DAY · FRIDAY, OCT. 2

Infrastructure met the people and places it is meant to serve.

From the Community Center to the Library to Melrose Stadium, the launch connected the day’s technology activation to existing gathering places and Senior Night.

3:00 P.M.

⌂

Community Center launch

City leaders, mStreet Fiber and community partners opened the first Connecting 901 activation at the Orange Mound Community Center, including a technology-lab tour and community partner expo.

OPEN SOURCEOfficial event schedule

DAYTIME

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Senior 2 Senior tailgate

Senior residents and Melrose High School students came together around the opening of the new labs and Melrose Senior Night—pairing new infrastructure with an intergenerational activity.

OPEN SOURCECity launch announcement

7:00 P.M.

⌁

Melrose Wi-Fi activation

The launch continued at Melrose Stadium during Senior Night, where the new public high-speed Wi-Fi was demonstrated for the community.

OPEN SOURCEStadium activation schedule

WHAT IS NOW AVAILABLE

More than a signal.

Connecting 901 is designed to turn fiber infrastructure into practical tools for residents—at places they already use.

Open City feature list

⌁

Free public Wi-Fi

Available at the Orange Mound Community Center, Library and Melrose Stadium.

OPEN SOURCEWREG report

▣

Digital access + labs

Two expanded Community Center labs—one for seniors and one for youth—with 18 upgraded stations.

OPEN SOURCECity launch announcement

✓

Learning + services

Digital-literacy programming, skills support, public-resource access and City-service information are part of the announced offering.

OPEN SOURCEAction News 5 report

Visitors viewing a digital kiosk at the launch. — Technology access at the Orange Mound Community Center.

WHY IT MATTERS

Connectivity can be an opening—not the finish line.

Launch coverage placed the project in everyday terms: applying for jobs, finishing schoolwork, accessing services, reaching family and preparing for college. The longer-term test will be whether that access translates into reliable use and durable opportunity.

“Opportunity requires connectivity.”Mayor Paul Young, as quoted by FOX13

OPEN SOURCEFOX13: Resident and student perspectives

LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE

The launch made the evening news.

Open the original reports for the reporting, video and full context. These links lead to the publishers—not reposted copies.

FOX13 coverage of the Connecting 901 launch.

FOX13 MEMPHIS · OCT. 2