DigitalC Exceeds 2025 Goals, Secures $4.35 Million as The Cleveland Model for Digital Equity Gains Momentum

Cleveland City Council has authorized a $4.35 million performance payment to DigitalC after the nonprofit exceeded its 2025 goals for connecting Cleveland households to high-speed home internet and providing residents with essential digital skills training, marking a major milestone for The Cleveland Model for digital equity. Cleveland's investment in DigitalC is helping demonstrate how a city can move quickly, intentionally and measurably to expand broadband access, digital skills and opportunity. DigitalC launched its four-year citywide connectivity initiative in January 2024 as part of a broader effort led by Mayor Justin M. Bibb's administration and Cleveland City Council to use once-in-a-generation American Rescue Plan Act dollars to expand broadband access and digital skills in a city that has historically ranked among the nation's least-connected large cities. Connect Your Community's analysis of United States Census Bureau American Community Survey data found Cleveland was the second worst-connected big city in 2021, and its more recent analysis showed Cleveland and Detroit still leading the worst-connected large cities in 2023. Under DigitalC's performance-based contract with the City of Cleveland, DigitalC was required to add 4,700 new household internet subscriptions and provide digital adoption services to 10,000 residents in 2025. The City of Cleveland's Bureau of Internal Audit verified 4,862 eligible new household subscriptions and confirmed 10,105 eligible digital adoption service records, exceeding both contractual targets. 

[May 19, 2026]