Reliable high-speed internet connection is as essential to economic participation as roads, electricity and transportation. Yet across Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties, geography, affordability and digital skills continue to determine who can fully participate in our increasingly digital economy.
That is why broadband infrastructure and digital access must be treated as economic development priorities, not simply technology issues.
Our region is remarkably diverse. We have agricultural communities, coastal cities, rural neighborhoods, tourism centers, universities, hospitals, small businesses and emerging technology companies. But that diversity also creates a broadband challenge. Remote and rural communities can face limited service options, while low-income households may struggle to afford monthly internet costs and devices,or lack the skills needed to use them effectively. The digital divide can deepen existing economic and educational inequities.
The good news is that connectivity can become a powerful engine for inclusive growth.
Start with e-learning. A student shouldn’t have fewer educational opportunities because of the ZIP code where they live. High-speed internet allows students to access online courses, tutoring, digital libraries and workforce training. It also gives working adults the flexibility to earn credentials and develop new skills without leaving their jobs or communities. In a region facing workforce shortages in healthcare, agriculture, hospitality, technology and other industries, online learning can help create more pathways into good jobs.
Then there is e-commerce. For a small farmer, artisan, restaurant, retailer or entrepreneur, the internet can transform a local customer base into a regional, national or even global marketplace. Digital storefronts, online payments, marketing and logistics allow businesses in our rural communities to compete in ways that were previously impossible. Broadband isn’t simply helping people consume online:it is helping them build businesses online.
Telehealth offers another enormous opportunity. In rural communities, distance can be a barrier to healthcare. Reliable broadband can connect patients with physicians, specialists, mental health professionals and other services without requiring a long drive. For seniors, people with mobility challenges and workers who cannot easily take time away from their jobs, that connection can make healthcare more accessible and convenient.
But infrastructure alone isn’t enough. Digital equity means access, affordability, devices and skills. California’s broadband programs increasingly recognize this, pairing infrastructure investments with digital inclusion and adoption efforts. California has also secured $1.86 billion through the federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, creating an important opportunity to extend reliable broadband to communities that have been left behind.
Our region has already demonstrated what collaboration can accomplish. The Central Coast Broadband Consortium convened by Monterey Bay Economic Partnership brings together Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties to advance broadband infrastructure and digital equity, while local governments, internet providers, nonprofits, educational institutions and businesses each bring essential pieces of the solution. As a result, $106,334,826 has been leveraged into the region through MBEP. How does MBEP help? By leading the Central Coast Broadband Consortium, working closely with internet service providers, city and county stakeholders, and residents resulting in build out to over 11,000 locations. We do this by collecting data, providing technical assistance, helping guide decision making, and prioritizing regional priorities.
In the access, affordability, adoption space, MBEP secured over $613,000 to create broadband access hubs throughout the three counties to bring vital internet connectivity and devices to residents who don’t have access in their homes and digital skills classes for those facing biggest barriers to adoption.
Now we need to think bigger and keep up the momentum.
If we want the Monterey Bay region to be economically competitive, resilient and equitable, we must ensure every resident and every business can participate in the digital economy.
Broadband is not just about faster downloads. It is about a student learning, a business growing, a farmer reaching customers, a worker gaining new skills and a patient getting the health care they need.
That is economic development. And connecting our communities is one of the most important investments we can make in our region’s future.