Convened by UNITE-LA and LAEDC
The Los Angeles Digital Equity Action League (LA DEAL) Consortium is a collaborative, community-driven consortium assessing and addressing existing broadband gaps across the Los Angeles region. LA DEAL’s membership includes cross-sector leaders from business, community based organizations, education, foundations, government, healthcare, internet service providers.
In 2021, an estimated 365,000 households in Los Angeles were without broadband access, significantly impacting education, college and job opportunities, healthcare access, and overall quality of life. The consortium has increased access to affordable, reliable, and high-speed internet service for unserved and underserved communities in L.A. County by shifting policies and resource flows. Some noteworthy highlights include:
- Empowering municipalities to develop publicly-owned, open-access broadband networks, enhancing affordability and digital inclusion within local communities.
- Collaborating with communities to extend infrastructure to historically digitally redlined areas in L.A. County, including aiding in Middle Mile and Last Mile project planning within the Gateway Cities.
- Engaging in advocacy at both state and federal levels to promote increased access to affordable, reliable internet services, along with digital resources and technology.
- Enrolling households in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a federal program that provided $30 a month towards household internet service bills, and distributing laptop devices to households in need of a device.
- Supporting digital access initiatives for students and families, equipping them with essential skills for effective technology utilization.
Learn more about LA DEAL here: ladeal.org.