Cleveland City Council authorizes full $4.35 million performance payment after DigitalC surpasses connectivity and digital skills targets
Cleveland is proving what is possible when a city invests in digital equity as essential civic infrastructure.
Cleveland City Council has authorized a $4.35 million performance payment to DigitalC after the nonprofit exceeded its 2025 goals for connecting Cleveland households to high-speed home internet and providing residents with essential digital skills training.
The milestone is an important moment for DigitalC, but it is also bigger than one organization. It reflects the continued momentum of The Cleveland Model, a nationally watched approach to digital equity that combines public investment, nonprofit innovation, philanthropic partnership and community trust to close the digital divide at scale.
DigitalC launched its four-year citywide connectivity initiative in January 2024 as part of a broader effort led by Mayor Justin M. Bibb’s administration and Cleveland City Council to use once-in-a-generation American Rescue Plan Act dollars to expand broadband access and digital skills in a city that has historically ranked among the nation’s least-connected large cities.
Under DigitalC’s performance-based contract with the City of Cleveland, DigitalC was required to add 4,700 new household internet subscriptions and provide digital adoption services to 10,000 residents in 2025. The City of Cleveland’s Bureau of Internal Audit verified 4,862 eligible new household subscriptions and confirmed 10,105 eligible digital adoption service records, exceeding both contractual targets.
Council’s authorization followed public review by both the Utilities Committee and the Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. During the May 18 finance committee meeting, Council President Blaine Griffin commended DigitalC’s progress and recognized the broad civic support behind the organization’s work, saying CEO Joshua Edmonds had shown why so many people have advocated for DigitalC.
Councilman Kris Harsh, who visited DigitalC’s MidTown Tech Hive with city and council staff to review data and supporting information, said the visit satisfied his interest in verifying the work.
“The data was presented in a very clear, understandable way, and we were able to confirm that all the work is being done as expected and as stated in the contract,” Harsh said. “I feel really good about this now and happy to vote in favor of this.”
Utilities Committee Chairman Brian Kazy also congratulated DigitalC as the legislation advanced from committee.
“This is more than a contract milestone. This is validation of Cleveland’s investment, DigitalC’s execution and the public, private and philanthropic partnership powering this work,” Edmonds said. “We are grateful for the leadership of Mayor Bibb’s administration, Cleveland City Council, the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation, the Ohio Department of Development and the growing group of catalytic partners who understand that digital equity is essential civic infrastructure.”
Since January 2024, DigitalC has connected more than 9,200 Cleveland homes, representing more than 22,000 residents connected to high-speed home internet through Canopy, Powered by DigitalC. The organization also has trained more than 20,000 residents in essential digital skills and delivered more than 26,000 digital skills sessions through Click, Powered by DigitalC.
Residents are feeling the difference
Behind the numbers are Cleveland residents using Canopy for school, work, streaming, video calls, benefits access, telehealth and everyday life.
For many households, high-speed home internet changes more than a monthly bill. It creates breathing room in a family budget, supports students outside the classroom and helps residents stay connected to the tools modern life requires.
One customer shared that they had been “paying hundreds of dollars for Wi-Fi for years” before finding Canopy and said the service helped their family budget. Another resident wrote that they had four devices connected and the service “doesn’t go slow at all,” adding that it came in handy when they first moved into their apartment.
For families with students, the impact is especially clear. One reviewer called DigitalC “a phenomenal service for Cleveland residents, especially with students within CMSD,” while another said the service left their kids with a strong connection for everyday internet needs.
Residents also point to the care and professionalism of DigitalC’s field teams. Customers described technicians who explained the process clearly, connected devices, answered questions, worked through installation challenges and made sure service was running before leaving the home.
One customer said a technician “took additional time to hook up all my devices” and shared information about programs for seniors to learn more about technology. Another said their installer waited for the rain to stop so the installation could be completed.
Those moments matter because DigitalC’s work is not simply about installing equipment. It is about earning trust, supporting households and helping residents participate more fully in a digital-first world.
“The Cleveland Model solves for affordability without compromising quality,” Edmonds said. “Through Canopy, residents gain access to high-speed home internet designed to meet the needs of modern households. Through Click, residents receive practical digital skills support for work, education, telehealth, benefits access, device use and participation in a digital-first economy.”
DigitalC completed its citywide network buildout in less than 18 months, and Canopy is now available throughout Cleveland neighborhoods. That speed of deployment, combined with neighborhood-based outreach and digital skills programming, is part of why civic, philanthropic and industry leaders are watching Cleveland’s progress.
“DigitalC is proud to be America’s fastest-growing community-based network,” Edmonds said. “But this story is bigger than DigitalC. This is about what Cleveland chose to do differently. While many cities talked about the digital divide, Cleveland invested in solving it and becoming a fully digitally empowered city.”
Residents can sign up for Canopy by visiting digitalc.org or calling 216-777-3859.
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3 min read
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May 22, 2026
