How Can California Get Everyone Online? Final Call To Add Your Voice

An estimated 3.5 million California residents don’t have internet at home because it’s too expensive, not available, or they face several other hurdles.

State officials consider broadband access to be essential for education, healthcare, workforce and civic participation, and are aiming to spend billions to reduce this “digital divide” — the gap between people who have easy access to modern technology and those who don’t.

Thursday at midnight is the deadline for Californians to weigh in on the state’s Digital Equity Plan to connect millions of people to internet service, give them the skills to go online and achieve digital equity.

Last month, the California Department of Technology released a 200-page draft of the plan, laying out exactly how they’re going to do it, using new federal funding.

Residents can share their thoughts on the state’s proposal through this online form (you can leave public comment on behalf of an individual or an organization).

The feedback will help “further shape” the plan and allow the state to apply for federal grant money, according to Scott Adams, the state’s deputy director of broadband and digital literacy.

Broadband for All

The effort is part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s multi-billion dollar Broadband for All Plan to connect more people, schools and businesses to the internet. It outlines three goals with specific objectives:

Goal 1: All Californians have high-performance broadband available at home, schools, libraries, and businesses.

• Give more people a choice of at least three internet service providers
• Increase service reliability
• Get all residents connected by 2030

Goal 2: All Californians have access to affordable broadband and necessary devices.

• Eliminate cost as a barrier to internet service by 2026
• Reduce the number of people who rely solely on a smartphone to go online
• Enroll more people in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (The FCC says it will stop accepting new applications by Feb. 7 unless Congress votes to fund it. Learn more here)

Goal 3: All Californians can access training and support to enable digital inclusion.

• Increase digital literacy, cybersecurity and skills training programs
• Address privacy concerns
• No more service gaps
• Create more broadband infrastructure and technology jobs

The state’s digital equity proposal identifies barriers for eight groups, including low-income residents, older adults and people who live in rural areas.

About 33.5 million California residents — or 85% of the state’s population — belong to one or more of these groups.