Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Council presses DigitalC on how it verifies active users after ARPA-funded citywide buildout
Summary
DigitalC told the Utilities Committee it completed Cleveland’s ARPA-funded citywide network in under 18 months and connected 4,850 households in 2025, but council members and internal audit pressed the nonprofit for better verification of 'new' and actively used connections before releasing performance funds.
DigitalC — the nonprofit running Cleveland’s ARPA‑funded internet project — told the City Council Utilities Committee on April 30 that it completed the citywide network buildout in less than 18 months and connected 4,850 households in 2025, exceeding the year’s goal of 4,700.
The presentation, delivered by DigitalC CEO Josh (DigitalC), also said the organization met its digital‑skills training target, reporting more than 10,000 residents trained in 2025. DigitalC said its sponsored consumer service is offered at $18 a month while the contract aims to reach 7,100 new household subscriptions in 2026 and 15,000 people trained over the year.
Why it matters: the project is funded from $20 million in ARPA allocations the city set aside for “internet for all.” The contract is performance‑based, meaning DigitalC’s receipt of some payments depends on verified outcomes. Council members said they need clearer, auditable evidence that installations represent new, actively used…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
