On October 25, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) awarded over $70 million in funding to California through the Digital Equity Act's Capacity Grant Program. The California Department of Technology (CDT), in partnership with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), developed a Digital Equity Plan that details how the state will use this funding to strive toward digital equity for all in California.

The plan envisions a California in which all residents have access to high-performance broadband, affordable service and devices, and the training and support necessary to enable digital inclusion for economic and other social benefits. With this Digital Equity Capacity Grant funding and a plan geared toward long-term growth and sustainability, the state is taking steps toward making this vision a reality.

Here, we take a look at what exactly California plans to do—and when.

Broadly, California will use the funding to implement key digital equity initiatives:

1. Creating a digital equity capacity grant program to expand statewide and community-based digital navigation and digital inclusion programs.
2. Developing and promoting digital inclusion tools and best practices.
3. Securing consumer subsidy program sustainability.

Objectives, Activities, Timelines

CDT's implementation of the Digital Equity Plan is already underway. In 2024, efforts have primarily focused on the detailed design of the seven key activities defined in the state plan and securing the funding sources necessary for their implementation. The state may modify this plan based on the federal Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program's requirements and funding award for California.CDT has adopted these activities as implementation milestones for key objectives:

Key Activity #1: Complete Broadband for All infrastructure investments within federal and state deadlines.

• Continue coordination with CPUC on the Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative (MMBI) and last-mile infrastructure buildout
  • Timeline: Q1 2024-Q4 2028

Key Activity #2: Convene digital equity stakeholders to strengthen collaboration.

• Transition the Statewide Digital Equity Planning Group to the Statewide Digital Equity Implementation Group
  • The planning group has served as an advisory body to the CDT and provided input on the planning activities for the state’s digital equity plan. The group consisted of representatives from the California Broadband Council––established to promote broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas of the state as defined by the CPUC––as well as statewide agencies and departments and other entities that have a connection to covered populations or subject matter expertise related to the outcome areas that the plan is focused on. The Statewide Digital Equity Implementation Group will also provide subject matter expertise to CDT and CPUC. The aim is to ensure that the planned implementation strategy will positively impact the entire state.
  • Q4 2024
• Quarterly convening of the Statewide Digital Equity Implementation Group
  • Timeline: Q1 2025-Q4 2028
• Quarterly convening of the Outcome Area Working Groups
  • The Outcome Area Working Groups were created during the development of the California Digital Equity Plan to gather feedback from the public regarding specific areas of digital accessibility. These areas include Essential Services, Accessibility, and Civic Engagement; Health; Digital Literacy and Inclusion; Workforce and Economic Development; Education; and Tribal Collaboration.
  • Timeline: Q4 2024-Q4 2028
• Establish the Citizens Advisory Committee
  • CDT will form an Advisory Committee to create a forum for individuals of covered populations to have a voice during the implementation period.
  • Timeline: Q4 2024
• Quarterly convening of the Citizens Advisory Committee
  • Timeline: Q1 2025-Q4 2028
• Quarterly convening of the California Broadband Council
  • Timeline: Q1 2024-Q4 2028

Key Activity #3: Refine digital equity data and maps.

• Administer digital equity public survey
  • Timeline: Q4 2024-Q4 2028

Key Activity #4: Develop a digital equity capacity grant program to expand statewide and community-based digital navigation and digital inclusion programs.

• Engage stakeholders
  • Timeline: Q3-Q4 2024
• Develop digital equity grant programs
  • Timeline: Q1 2025
• Ongoing support of grant recipients
  • Timeline: Q1 2025-Q4 2028

Key Activity #5: Fund and expand existing state-managed digital inclusion programs.

• Partner with state agencies that deliver digital inclusion to strengthen and expand their impact
  • Timeline: Q4 2024
• Continuation of partnerships with state agencies delivering digital inclusion services
  • Timeline: Q1 2025-Q4 2028

Key Activity #6: Develop and promote digital inclusion tools and best practices.

• Continue building the statewide asset inventory
  • Timeline: Q1 2024-Q4 2028
• Fund a statewide digital literacy platform(s) to promote digital inclusion best practices
  • Timeline: Q4 2024-Q1 2025
• Fund and implement a statewide digital literacy platform to promote digital inclusion best practices
  • Timeline: Q2-Q4 2025

• Maintain and support the statewide digital inclusion best practices

  • Timeline: Q4 2024-Q4 2028

Key Activity #7: Secure consumer subsidy program sustainability.

• Continue promotion of the low-cost service offers to obtain subsidies and increase enrollment in low-cost internet plans

  • Timeline: Q1 2024-Q4 2028

• Formalize partnerships with other state agencies that offer programs to ACP-eligible households

  • Timeline: Q2-Q4 2024

Conclusion

While CDT will be responsible for the overall implementation of the Digital Equity Plan, all Californians have a role in shaping how these activities are completed. There will be future opportunities for all members of the public to be consulted on how these activities are implemented by CDT.

CDT admits that more work remains beyond this plan. Many residents still need access to broadband and internet services. Many more residents find home Internet service and devices unaffordable. And many Californians need to gain the digital skills necessary to utilize the Internet to the full extent possible. These barriers disproportionately affect members of covered populations and digitally disadvantaged communities, which have a greater need for support and services.

Additional Coverage on California Broadband Priorities

• A New Chapter of Digital Equity Work in California

See the latest California broadband news

More in this Series

• When Will Nevada Implement Its Digital Equity Plan?
• Michigan Is on the Road to Closing the Digital Divide by 2030

Quick Bits

• Biden-Harris Administration Awards $72 Million to Expand Internet Access and Digital Literacy for Native Hawaiians
• Universal Service Litigation Updates
• Trump’s win turns online censorship case upside-down
• The Importance of Digital Inclusion in Disaster Recovery: A Response to Climate Change

Weekend Reads

• Trump’s likely FCC chair wrote Project 2025 chapter on how he’d run the agency
• Mercury to return RDOF-awarded census block groups

ICYMI from Benton

• Veterans and Digital Equity
• Elections Matter—2024 Edition
• The ABCs of Affordability in Alabama
• New Hampshire Pursues Affordable Broadband With BEAD

Upcoming Events

Nov 20––Infrastructure Deployment: Where We Stand (Multicultural Media Telecom and Internet Council)

Dec 05––Task Force for Reviewing the Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture in the United States (FCC)

Dec 06––Meeting of the Communications Equity and Diversity Council (FCC)

Feb 11––State of the Net Conference 2025 (Internet Education Foundation)

Feb 25––The Attention Economy: Monopolizing Kids’ Time Online (FTC)

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people in the U.S. have access to competitive, High-Performance Broadband regardless of where they live or who they are. We believe communication policy - rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities.

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