Project Empower: Cleveland’s Innovative Approach to Bridging the Digital Divide

Located on the shores of Lake Erie, Cleveland suffers from the highest rates of child poverty and the lowest rates of broadband access among the large cities in the United States. Faced with that reality, a Cleveland-based nonprofit, DigitalC, dedicated itself to bringing digital equity to the community’s residents by forming partnerships to (1) increase the availability of affordable high-speed internet service, (2) offer digital training and devices, and (3) provide inclusive shared space for community engagement and innovation. Through an innovative technology approach, DigitalC delivers broadband service to residents across the city. Depending on local topography, tree coverage, access to vertical infrastructure, and other factors affecting wireless signal strength, DigitalC designs and deploys customized fixed-wireless network solutions leveraging existing infrastructure. With National Science Foundation (NSF) and Project OVERCOME support, DigitalC will serve 225 new households by deploying millimeter wave (mmWave) technology with wireless equipment from Siklu installed on rooftops to create a mesh network.