Accelerating Digital Equity
In Los Angeles County, it is estimated that approximately 416,000 households lack broadband internet service. The disproportionate impacts are mostly located in lower income communities and among populations that are predominantly Black and Latinx. Several government initiatives are underway to address this crisis, yet digital inequities persist in both rural and urban areas. The County of Los Angeles (County) Board of Supervisors (Board) directed the County Internal Services Department to assess viable options for the County of Los Angeles to facilitate residential access to reliable broadband service in low-income communities where greater than 20% of the households lack internet service, based on data from the United States Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. The purpose of this website is to provide relevant information to the public on this topic, process, and programs.
Board Actions & Reports:
- On August 31, 2021, the Board unanimously adopted a motion to assess options for the County of Los Angeles to facilitate residential access to reliable broadband service in low-income communities that lack affordable, high-speed internet service.
- On September 30, 2021, ISD submitted a report outlining options for the Board to consider, including the option to deploy Community Broadband Networks.
- On November 16, 2021, the Board unanimously approved a motion to advance the Community Broadband Networks by instructing ISD to coordinate implementation.
- On February 7, 2022, ISD submitted its first quarterly progress report on the status of the various workstreams.
- On May 13, 2022, ISD submitted its second quarterly progress report on the status of the various workstreams.
- On July 7, 2022, ISD submitted a progress report on the status of the various workstreams.
- On August 11, 2022, ISD submitted its third quarterly progress report on the status of the various workstreams.
- On November 10, 2022, ISD submitted its fourth quarterly progress report on the status of the various workstreams.
- On February 10, 2023, ISD submitted its fifth quarterly progress report on the status of the various workstreams.
- On May 11, 2023, ISD submitted its sixth quarterly progress report on the status of the various workstreams.
Maps & Data:
Affordable Connectivity Program:
- On December 31, 2021, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program was replaced by the $14 billion Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Under this new program, the monthly broadband benefit is $30. The monthly benefit is $75 for households on qualifying Tribal lands. The income eligibility was raised from 135% to 200% of the Federal Poverty Line.
- More than 534,000 households are currently enrolled in the ACP (formerly EBB program), but this count is well below the estimated 1.6 million households that are eligible.
- The County has launched an outreach campaign to ensure that eligible residents apply for the ACP.
- If you’re interested in spreading the word about ACP, please check out our Social Media/Press Toolkit.
- ACP Reports: Enrollment Tracker and Interactive Maps
- To learn more and apply, click here.
Community Broadband Network:
- The Community Broadband Network is one of the strategies that the Board has directed the County to pursue to accelerate digital equity.
- The County’s Community Broadband Networks will rely potentially on landlines and/or radio links, leveraging equipment mounted to public buildings, streetlights, and other community real estate assets to deliver high-speed connections to households or other end users who are equipped to receive the signal.
- On January 7, 2022, as part of the planning process, the County of Los Angeles released a Request for Comments (RFC) seeking input from market participants to inform the solicitation requirements, network structure, technical specifications, evaluation metrics, and any other topics that will be instructive to facilitating a competitive solicitation. The responses to the RFC can be found here.
- On March 21, 2022, the County released a Request for Statement of Qualifications for the Installation and Operation of Community Wireless Networks to Deliver Residential Broadband Services. The Internal Services Department will be continuously accepting Statements of Qualifications through September 13, 2027. Qualified vendors may Download a copy of the Community Broadband Network RFSQ and apply at any time through September 13, 2027.
- On July 13, 2022, the County released an addendum to the RFSQ to clarify and rename it to: “Request for Statement of Qualifications for the Installation and Operation of Community Broadband Networks to Deliver Residential Broadband Services.”
- Community Broadband Network – Information and FAQ’s
- Download a copy of the Community Broadband Network RFSQ
- In order to protect the integrity and confidentiality of the solicitation process, any questions related to the RFSQ should be directed to CommunityBroadband@isd.lacounty.gov.
Community Broadband Network Services Master Agreement (CBNSMA)
June 21, 2023 Update
On June 21, 2023, ISD released its third Community Broadband Network Master Agreement Work Order Solicitation. Under that solicitation, the County seeks one of the qualified Community Broadband Network Master Agreement Vendors to deploy and to operate a retail broadband internet service (Service) that is affordable, highly reliable, and high-quality within the Southeast Los Angeles Service Area (Supervisorial District 4).
The Southeast Los Angeles Service Area is part of Supervisorial District 4 and has communities incorporated in the City of Lynwood, City of South Gate, City of Cudahy, City of Bell, and City of Maywood, as well as the unincorporated Los Angeles County community of Walnut Park. The Southeast Los Angeles Service Area has a total geographic area of 17.82 square miles with South Alameda Street generally bordering the West side of the service area and the Interstate 710 bordering the East. On the North end, the service area extends a few blocks above Slauson Avenue and over the Interstate 710, while on the South side the service area does not go beyond East Rosecrans Avenue.
Firms that are qualified under the Community Broadband Network Master Agreement will be eligible to propose, and the County will continue to accept Statements of Qualifications through the third Work Order Solicitation period as well as through September 13, 2027, for future Work Orders.
Vendors can access the Work Order Solicitation at this link: https://camisvr.co.la.ca.us/LACoBids/BidLookUp/BidDetail?BidNumber=ITS-I10602-WOS-3
All communication regarding the solicitation should be directed to the CommunityBroadband@isd.lacounty.gov email address. For more information on Community Broadband Networks, please see here.
May 1, 2023 Update
On April 27, 2023, ISD released its second Community Broadband Network Master Agreement Work Order Solicitation. Under the solicitation, the County seeks one of the qualified Community Broadband Network Master Agreement Vendors to deploy and to operate a retail broadband internet service (Service) that is affordable, highly reliable, and high-quality within the San Fernando Valley Service Area (Supervisorial District 3).
The San Fernando Valley Service Area is part of Supervisorial District 3 and is composed of the City of San Fernando and of the following City of Los Angeles neighborhoods: Sylmar, Pacoima, San Fernando, Sun Valley, North Hollywood, Valley Glen, Van Nuys, North Hills, and Mission Hills. The San Fernando Valley Service Area has a total geographic area of 59.25 square miles with Balboa Boulevard generally bordering the West side of the service area, West Chandler Boulevard and Oxnard Street bordering the south end of the area, Foothill Boulevard and North Vineland Avenue bordering the east end of the area, and the north end of the service area reaching Polk Street and Foothill Boulevard.
Firms that are qualified under the Community Broadband Network Master Agreement will be eligible to propose, and the County will continue to accept Statements of Qualifications through the second Work Order Solicitation period as well as through September 13, 2027, for future Work Orders.
Vendors can access the Work Order Solicitation at this link: https://camisvr.co.la.ca.us/LACoBids/BidLookUp/BidDetail?BidNumber=ITS-I10602-WOS-2
All communication regarding the solicitation should be directed to the CommunityBroadband@isd.lacounty.gov email address. For more information on Community Broadband Networks, please see here.