County of Los Angeles Launches Strategic Planning Process for the First-Ever Digital Equity Roadmap to Address the Digital Divide and Hosts Regional Summit Convening Over 150 Community Partners and Stakeholder Organizations
Proclaiming 2025 Digital Inclusion Week Across Los Angeles County
The County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors proclaimed Monday, October 6, to Friday, October 10, as National Digital Inclusion Week, and approved a motion that launched the strategic planning process to co-create the County’s first-ever Digital Equity Roadmap. National Digital Inclusion Week is an annual week of awareness, celebration, and recognition, during which digital inclusion leaders and practitioners across the nation highlight their efforts and promote digital equity. In celebration of Digital Inclusion Week, the County co-hosted the Digital Advancement and Opportunity Regional Summit on October 9, 2025.
In partnership with California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), the Digital Advancement and Opportunity Regional Summit took place at the Leo F. Cain Library. The Summit convened more than 150 cross-sector leaders and stakeholders to discuss regional digital inclusion priorities, showcase local community action and workforce development strategies, and mobilize regional action and sustainable collaboration in support of the Digital Equity Roadmap strategic planning process. During the Summit, CSUDH’s Workforce Integration Network, in collaboration with the County's Delete the Divide Initiative, provided 50 free laptop computers to qualified students attending the University. The laptop computers were distributed to qualified students who met the proper eligibility requirements based on need. This collaborative partnership ensures that students have access to and use equitable technology to succeed in their classes, extracurricular activities, and throughout their entire higher education journey.
The strategic planning process of the Digital Equity Roadmap will be a significant milestone in addressing the digital divide for Los Angeles County. This will be a three-year strategic action plan to ensure that all residents have equitable access to and use of the internet, technology, digital skills, and support to complete daily life activities. Connectivity and technology are imperative for ensuring all residents are civically engaged, economically empowered, and have a thriving quality of life. The County welcomes community partners and stakeholder organizations across sectors to join the Digital Equity Roadmap strategic planning process and co-create community-centered strategies that promote digital advancement, inclusion, and opportunity for every household in Los Angeles County.
“The Digital Equity Roadmap is more than just a plan; it’s a commitment to dismantling the systemic barriers that keep our most vulnerable residents offline. By making this Roadmap a community-driven mandate, we are ensuring that every resident, regardless of their zip code, has the digital tools and skills necessary to access opportunity,” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, author of the motion establishing the County's Digital Equity Roadmap.
"In Los Angeles County, digital access is a critical issue of economic and social justice. That’s why in 2021, I introduced a motion to explore reliable broadband options for communities impacted by the digital divide. This effort led to the launch of the Community Broadband Networks initiative, partnering with private providers to pilot residential internet in unincorporated East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, and other Eastside neighborhoods. In addition to expanding connectivity, I recently sponsored the purchase of 473 laptops for 47 schools across 10 San Gabriel Valley districts to help bridge the technology gap. Broadband is essential today, yet many residents still face inequities in access, reliability, and cost—disparities we cannot ignore. To address this, we must accelerate solutions that connect our families to job training, telehealth, and support their children’s education. This Roadmap represents our commitment to leave no family behind in the digital economy,” said Los Angeles County Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis.
This Roadmap builds upon the County's existing digital equity efforts, which addresses the digital divide across Los Angeles County. Some communities lack affordable access, the necessary skills, and support to engage online effectively. Through the County's work, in collaboration with its community partners and stakeholder organizations, the percentage of households in Los Angeles County without internet subscriptions decreased from 11.7 percent to 5.8 percent. Additionally, the number of households without a computer decreased from 5.5 percent to 2.9 percent. This underscores the significance of public digital equity investments at the federal, state, and local levels. Additionally, there is an ongoing need for sustainable funding to replicate and scale digital inclusion programs, resources, and services across the region. The Digital Equity Roadmap strategic planning process is scheduled to commence later this calendar year and is expected to be released in 2026.
“The Digital Equity Roadmap marks a renewed and deliberate commitment to the residents of Los Angeles County. Digital access is a fundamental necessity for accessing healthcare, education, job opportunities, and staying connected to vital information. We recognize the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors’ commitment to achieving sustainable digital equity for everyone,” said Michael Owh, Director of the County of Los Angeles Internal Services Department.
"Digital equity is uplifting the voices of residents who are historically and currently underserved and ensuring their lived experiences and wisdom are incorporated into the Digital Equity Roadmap. The Digital Equity Roadmap will be a community-centered plan that leverages existing strengths from communities across Los Angeles County and addresses the specific needs of all residents," said Rebecca F. Kauma, Director of Digital Equity, County of Los Angeles Internal Services Department.
Notice: Attendees were informed that this public event would be recorded and streamed, and that they may appear on camera.
-
Event Photos & More Information on the Digital Advancement and Opportunity Regional Summit: click here.
About the Intergovernmental Broadband Coordinating Committee
The County Intergovernmental Broadband Coordinating Committee (IBCC) is a regional, standing, multidisciplinary stakeholder committee and collective body of stakeholders and community members collaborating to pursue, secure, and implement Federal and State grant program funding to address the digital divide across all of Los Angeles County through County-led intergovernmental and cross-sector regional coordination. For more information regarding the County's Digital Equity Roadmap, please email IBCC@isd.lacounty.gov.
About the County of Los Angeles Internal Services Department
The Internal Services Department (ISD) is a general services organization that supports the County of Los Angeles by providing a range of support services to other County departments in the areas of purchasing, contracting, facilities, information technology, and other support services, such as energy and environmental programs management, parking, and mail services. ISD has been designated by the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors as the lead department for residential broadband service initiatives. ISD also administers Delete The Divide, an initiative to advance digital equity in underserved communities through partnerships, infrastructure investments, and technology resources that empower residents and small businesses. For more information on ISD, visit isd.lacounty.gov.
###
|
