It’s time to close the digital divide in Cleveland
We have the resources available to address the problems comprehensively, but we need your help to ensure the right solutions close the right gaps to get Cleveland families online.
Take action by sending a letter to Cleveland City Leaders urging them to help connect families in need now.
Clearing the air about connectivity in Cleveland
Why was Cleveland ranked America’s worst-connected large city?
It’s NOT because of a lack of available broadband infrastructure – according to BroadbandNow 100% of Cleveland has internet service available and with an average speed of 54.3 Mbps – more than double the FCC’s definition of “high speed.” And many local providers offer even faster speeds, including up to 1 Gigabit. Also, eligible low-income families can subscribe to this high-quality internet for free through the monthly benefit available through the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program.
With internet infrastructure widely available and affordable throughout the city, it’s clear that Cleveland’s digital divide is due to internet adoption challenges and the high cost of devices needed to get online. The good news is that Mayor Bibb and the Cleveland City Council have a historic opportunity to use $25M in federal funding to invest in the right adoption-focused solutions to close the right gaps that will bridge the city’s digital divide for the long term. Even better, these are solutions that can be deployed immediately, getting help to Clevelanders in need now.
Unfortunately, one plan under consideration would allocate Cleveland’s federal American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding on building expensive, internet infrastructure. It would take years to develop and deploy, and could needlessly saddle taxpayers with tens of millions of dollars in unnecessary costs and still leave the biggest driver of Cleveland’s digital divide – adoption – unaddressed. Furthermore, when the temporary funding from the federal government runs out, how will the City pay for the ongoing maintenance?
Scarce public resources should be devoted to adoption by funding computers and programs focused on digital literacy and getting more Clevelanders online.
Rather than using scarce public resources to build duplicative broadband networks that are a risky and ineffective “solution” that still wouldn’t close the city’s digital divide, City leaders can quickly implement more effective tactics that lean on existing infrastructure and focus on digital literacy and adoption to help connect Cleveland families in need. These include:
Spreading awareness of the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program and encouraging families in need to enroll.
Partnering with existing internet service providers, which have already built high-speed broadband infrastructure throughout Cleveland, to bring the benefits of broadband to families in need.
Investing in devices like computers and tablets for students and low-income families.