Helen Keller once said, “I may have lost my sight, but I never lost my vision.” I can’t think of a more fitting tribute to vision — bold, clear, and transformative — than what’s unfolding in Cleveland through the leadership of DigitalC and its CEO, Joshua Edmonds.

Not long ago, Cleveland held the unfortunate title of least connected large city in America. Today, that narrative is being rewritten — and fast. DigitalC is on a mission to deliver high-speed, low-latency broadband to every unserved and underserved family in the city. And it’s doing so not as an outside contractor or distant provider — but as a local, community-rooted force of change.

This is what a real digital revolution looks like.

Vision With a Plan

DigitalC isn’t tossing around lofty goals without accountability. It’s matching ambition with action:

• Coverage: As of July 1, DigitalC has achieved 99% citywide coverage, all within just 18 months.
  
• Affordability and Connectivity: Committed to connecting 23,500 families with ultra-fast internet for just $18 per month — a price almost unheard of in the broadband industry — by 2028. More than 5,800 families have already signed on.
• Digital Skills: Training 50,000 Clevelanders to thrive in a connected world by 2028. To date, more than 12,500 Clevelanders, from students to seniors, jobseekers to entrepreneurs, have been trained.

These aren’t just stats on a spreadsheet. They represent real people: Children who can now do their homework at home, parents finding better jobs online, grandparents accessing telehealth with ease, and families staying connected to one another.

Partnerships That Deliver

This transformation isn’t happening in a vacuum. It’s powered by deep partnerships — with the City of Cleveland, State of Ohio, the Mandel Foundation, and other respected institutions like the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Cleveland Clinic, Gund Foundation and Microsoft Airband. Together, these partners are aligning resources, cutting red tape, and helping ensure that every Cleveland family has a chance to participate fully in the digital economy.

Community-First Strategy

Technology alone doesn’t close the digital divide — trust does. DigitalC understands Cleveland at a neighborhood level. That’s why it spent nearly a year working to secure the city’s door-knocking permit, just so it could meet families where they are: On their porches, in their living rooms, and at their kitchen tables.

That grassroots approach is paying off. When 9 out of 10 customers give Canopy — DigitalC’s internet service provider — glowing reviews, you know you’re doing something right. Not many communities can say that about their internet provider.

Cutting-Edge Technology

I’m proud to work at Tarana Wireless, the technology partner powering DigitalC’s broadband rollout. Our next-generation fixed wireless access (ngFWA) technology is purpose-built to do what old tech cannot: Provide fast, reliable service through the dense tree canopy that gives Cleveland its nickname, “The Forest City.” Our breakthrough radio interference cancellation allows service to thrive even in challenging urban environments.

But as powerful as our technology is, it’s only part of the story.

Cleveland Leading Cleveland

What truly sets DigitalC apart is that it is Cleveland. With just 41 full-time employees, supported by locally trained installers and neighborhood volunteers, this small but mighty team embodies the spirit of the community it serves. Their mission isn’t just professional — it’s personal.

None of this would be possible without a powerful coalition of public, private, and nonprofit leaders working together: Mayor Justin Bibb. Governor Mike DeWine. Council President Blaine Griffin and the entire City Council. They’ve all stepped up — not with rhetoric, but with resolve and results.

Cleveland’s story is no longer about being last. It’s about leading. From worst to first. From disconnected to empowered.

And thanks to the vision, grit, and partnership behind DigitalC, the finish line is in sight — a Cleveland where every household is fully connected, and no one is left behind.