This is a community indicator measure. It is provided to show an understanding of the overall community health. The County government does not directly control the outcome of this measure; however, programs and initiatives the County is undertaking can have an impact.

The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted how important in-home internet access is in today’s society. As schools, libraries, government buildings and other businesses closed to the public, those with internet in the home still had access to education materials, job applications, and telehealth services.  Cuyahoga County immediately stepped in to action to put in place the following programs:

1. A partnership with the Mandel Supporting Foundation at the Jewish Federation and PCs for People to provide 1000 computers, hotspots and three months of free internet access for job seekers.
2. A partnership with the Cleveland Foundation and PCs for People to provide up to 5000 hotspots with two years of free internet access and 10,000 computers to families with children attending school in Cuyahoga County.

Additionally, Cuyahoga County is a leading member on the Digital Equity Coalition, a comprehensive effort to keep public, private, nonprofit, and philanthropic partners engaged with the overall strategy to address digital inequities.  

While these initiatives were important in the short-term to address connectivity needs related to COVID-19, Cuyahoga County is also working to provide long-term sustainable solutions to the digital divide. In Q4-20 Cuyahoga County released a Request for Information (RFI) to gather information from private vendors to support the Coalition's efforts to develop a long-term solution to the digital divide. The RFI aimed to identify qualified vendors interested in partnering with the Coalition to make affordable high-speed Internet access available in the County, as well as solicit ideas for innovative, sustainable business models. At the close of the RFI in January 2021, 19 responses were received from a range of vendors, including incumbent Internet service providers, start-up networks, and infrastructure companies.  The information gathered as part of the RFI will be used to prepare an RFP for projects related to addressing the digital divide.