The Los Angeles Digital Equity Action League (LA DEAL), has secured a $25,000 Digital Equity Spark Grant from the Michelson 20MM Foundation. With this support, UNITE-LA will launch community broadband pilots in Pacoima and the Antelope Valley, two regions where affordability and access remain among the most persistent barriers to digital equity. Partnering with local coalitions, UNITE-LA will support the launch of public broadband models that are grounded in community leadership and resident input, ensuring solutions reflect the lived experiences of those most impacted by digital redlining.

In the Antelope Valley, UNITE-LA will work alongside partners to establish a new public broadband authority tasked with implementing a shared network plan to expand connectivity. In Pacoima, UNITE-LA will support a community task force piloting strategies to reduce internet costs and improve service quality for residents. Both initiatives aim to demonstrate how place-based solutions can shift broadband planning toward equity, transparency, and local control.

The Spark Grant reinforces UNITE-LA’s focus on addressing digital inequities through community-driven solutions. By supporting broadband pilots in Pacoima and the Antelope Valley, UNITE-LA is helping ensure that all Angelenos have equitable access to the tools and connectivity needed for learning, work and full civic participation.

For more information, please reach out to Liliana Aide Monge, Director of Digital Equity at [email protected].