Cleveland moves forward $20 million plan to expand broadband

The City of Cleveland (OH) is moving forward with Mayor Justin Bibb’s $20 million plan to expand broadband throughout the city. The revised plan would allocate $20 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to local nonprofit DigitalC to expand affordable broadband. But City Council members, skeptical that the largely untested nonprofit can deliver on its promises, built in some safeguards, namely the funds will be withheld from DigitalC until it shows it can meet some of its goals. DigitalC’s technology hooks into existing networks to provide wireless broadband internet, where it has promised upload and download speeds of at least 100 Mbps at $18 per month for all Cleveland homes. In order to receive its first batch of money from Cleveland, DigitalC has to more than double its current customer base by attracting 3,500 new subscribers and providing digital literacy training to 7,500 Cleveland residents. If DigitalC is able to accomplish that, the city will provide the nonprofit with $3.75 million.