DigitalC Selected by City of Cleveland As Partner to Build Citywide Broadband Network

DigitalC, a local nonprofit technology social enterprise, has been selected by Mayor Justin Bibb (D-Cleveland) to receive $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from the City of Cleveland (OH) to deliver affordable, high-speed internet to city residents. The Cleveland City Council must approve legislation submitted by the mayor to allocate this funding to DigitalC. The legislation will be presented at the next City Council meeting on May 15, 2023. DigitalC was selected through a competitive process. Along with its many consortium partners, DigitalC laid out a plan to provide citywide internet coverage for $18 per month and provide basic technical skills training at no cost to residents, per the city’s requirements. Cleveland-based DigitalC has thousands of customers in 16 neighborhoods in the City of Cleveland. It will expand its coverage citywide from these neighborhoods, which include Hough, Glenville, Ohio City, Tremont, Clark Fulton and Central. In addition, DigitalC and its consortium partners, such as the Cleveland Public Library, ASC3 Digital Literacy Training Center and Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, plan to support and train residents on basic computer skills to assist them in utilizing everything from TeleHealth, online job applications, mobile banking, email, Zoom and more.