After the COVID-19 pandemic shined a stark light on profound digital inequities that leave California’s communities of color and low-income neighborhoods disproportionately disconnected to the internet, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 156, which provided $6 billion towards expanded broadband infrastructure and access across the State. Once SB 156 was signed into law in 2021, many digital equity advocates understood that now was the time to get coordinated. Together, we had to ensure this historic broadband investment went towards supporting the highest need, least connected communities in California – and there was no time to spare.
In 2022 six digital equity partners came together to establish the California Alliance for Digital Equity, a community-based coalition focused on advancing digital equity and inclusion throughout the state. At the time our initial and urgent goal was to elevate community voices advocating in support of key pieces of digital equity legislation, such as CA Assembly Bill 2748 (Holden), a Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act reform bill. While CADE secured immense philanthropic, non-profit, and community support for many of our legislative priorities, the alliance came head-to-head with heavy industry pushback, which played a significant role in blocking a number of critical digital equity reforms that year.
The experience did not dissuade us from continuing our advocacy. Instead, it solidified and intensified our collective mission, making us realize how important it was for the alliance to not only be maintained, but to grow. For too long internet service providers have been the dominant stakeholders engaged on statewide issues relating to device acquisition, broadband access, and digital literacy. Not anymore. It’s time for change, and CADE is ready to lead the charge.
