Southeast and South LA communities cannot be asked to wait for a digital lifeline.
South Gate, California: For over two years, community-based organizations and nonprofit leaders have been uplifting the inequity that internet service providers (ISPs) have created by not providing access to fast, reliable and affordable internet service.
The true disparity of internet access surfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic and Governor Newsom was celebrated for a monumental bill that would allocate $6 billion dollars to address the digital divide in 2021. Now two years later, Southeast LA (SELA) and South LA communities are being left behind.
The State’s $3.86B investment in a statewide open-access middle mile network has been spent to provide resources to more affluent, well-connected communities that already have multiple options for fast, reliable, and affordable internet while asking our disadvantaged communities, those with the highest rates of disconnection in households and small businesses to wait for potential future funding.
Communities are disappointed, confused, and outraged that yet again our trust in our elected and appointed officials are not keeping their promise. Our communities cannot wait and we are calling for action now.