LOS ANGELES, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- More Angelenos will have free broadband access to the Internet thanks to the 7.5 million-dollar federal stimulus funding released by the Obama administration on Wednesday, authorities said.

    "This critical investment will expand computer and Internet service access to Los Angeles residents most in need, helping to make them full participants in today's 21st century information economy," U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said.

    The investment is intended to upgrade and expand 188 computer centers throughout the city; give residents better access to job search engines, online educational and training courses and other Web-based information, Locke told a news conference at the South Los Angeles WorkSource Center.

    "Having access to the Internet's economic, health and educational benefits should be as much of a fundamental American right as attending a quality school or feeling safe when you walk down the street," he added.

    "With this (federal stimulus) funding, we will take another step toward bridging the digital divide and getting the hardworking people of Los Angeles back to work," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.

    The grant was awarded to the Los Angeles Computer Access Network, also known as L.A.-CAN, which promised to double the number of computer workstations available at public libraries, child care centers, senior centers and WorkSource and OneSource job centers, particularly those in low-income and non-English speaking communities.

    The grant forms part of the 183 million dollars the Obama administration plans to invest in high-speed Internet projects benefiting 17 states.

    Los Angeles also recently received 4 million-dollar stimulus funds from the U.S. Labor Department for the "Pathways Out of Poverty" program.

    The money was intended to provide employment and training services to unemployed residents who want to upgrade their skills.

    To date, the city has received approximately 485 million dollars in federal stimulus funds.