“Having broadband infrastructure funding without accompanying funding for digital inclusion programming like digital skills and affordability is like having a road with no cars or no one able to drive them.” — Maure Gildea, Monterey Bay Economic Partnership Associate Director of Economic Development and Digital Access
(Oct. 10, 2025 — Marina, CA) —Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) joins with the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) in observing Digital Inclusion Week (Oct. 6-10), an annual nationwide event dedicated to raising awareness about digital equity and the vital importance of inclusion in our increasingly digital world. This week-long event showcases the collective efforts to bridge the digital divide and highlights the impactful work being done to ensure everyone has access to technology and the internet.
Maure Gildea, MBEP’s Associate Director of Economic Development and Digital Access, shares how MBEP is making a difference in our region:
What’s the current state of broadband funding in our region?
We’re at a really pivotal point for broadband funding. Over the past few years, we’ve seen an unprecedented influx of state dollars for broadband infrastructure, through programs like the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Infrastructure Account and the Federal Funding Account (FFA). These programs represent billions in investment, and MBEP helped secure over $60 million of those funds last year for small and mid-sized internet service providers in our region. These programs are beginning to roll out, expanding broadband access to more residents in need. However, most of that funding is focused on infrastructure, building the networks themselves. The equally critical work of digital inclusion, or helping residents afford service, access devices, and build digital skills, has much more limited funding. The federal Digital Equity Act programs, which were designed to support exactly those efforts, were unfortunately cancelled earlier this year. That was a major setback, as our communities could have really benefited from sustained funding for adoption, literacy, and affordability initiatives. Without that federal support, we’re continuing to take advantage of state-level programs like the CASF Adoption Account, though funding there is limited to $150,000 per project. Also, as more of our region’s underserved areas are connected through CASF and FFA, the remaining projects will be the most challenging and expensive to complete. We ultimately have to be more strategic and collaborative in our approach to securing funding. We’re focusing on building partnerships and exploring new funding sources, including private and philanthropic opportunities.
How far have we come as a region in terms of bridging the digital divide? Where is progress being made?
We’ve definitely come a long way, especially over the last few years. Through the Central Coast Broadband Consortium (CCBC), we’ve worked closely with local governments, internet service providers, and community organizations to identify gaps in service and advocate for targeted, impactful investments in underserved and unserved areas. Recent progress includes major state and federal infrastructure investments connecting rural communities, and an increasing number of local initiatives focused on affordability and digital skills.
How far are we from achieving a truly connected and inclusive digital landscape? Is that attainable?
While we’ve made amazing progress, we’re still some ways away from achieving a fully connected and inclusive digital landscape. A connected and inclusive digital landscape goes beyond infrastructure, and means that every household has not only access to reliable internet but can also afford it, knows how to use it, and benefits from it in daily life, through education, health care, or economic opportunity. These gaps still persist in rural, low-income communities, where access to affordable internet is still a challenge. That said, I do believe a truly connected digital landscape is absolutely attainable with continued investment in infrastructure, digital skills, and policies that prioritize equitable access. It’s absolutely attainable but will take sustained collaboration and investment. Achieving digital equity requires maintaining affordability programs, supporting digital skills training, and continuing to make sure that infrastructure investments translate into meaningful connectivity for all residents.
What is MBEP engaged in at the moment in terms of broadband infrastructure and digital inclusion?
Central Coast Broadband Consortium (CCBC), led by MBEP, continues to coordinate regional broadband planning, data collection, and project support to expand high-speed internet access across Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties. We’re also leading the formation of a new Digital Access Coalition, which brings together community-based organizations, education leaders, and local governments to align efforts around digital inclusion. Together we’re focusing on awareness, affordability, access to devices, digital literacy, and outreach to covered populations to make sure that our region not only builds the necessary infrastructure but also empowers residents to fully participate in the digital economy.
The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed Americans’ internet usage, with 40% saying they adopted new technologies or used the internet in new ways, according to the Pew Research Center. But the pandemic – and news coverage that circulated around the world – also highlighted the reality of the digital divide in our region – the photo of young students trying to do homework in a Taco Bell parking lot told the story that was hard to ignore. Is there still a lack of awareness about the importance of digital inclusion and how is that changing?
Until recently, it did seem that digital inclusion was kind of a niche issue, like something important but secondary to broadband infrastructure. I think that’s changing. The pandemic did make it clear that internet access is essential infrastructure, not a luxury, and that digital inclusion is fundamental to community resilience and economic opportunity. Awareness has grown significantly among local governments, health providers, and educators, and we’re now seeing more organizations that recognize that connectivity affects everything: student success, business growth, workforce development, and civic participation. MBEP has made it a priority to keep digital inclusion at the forefront, through the Central Coast Broadband Consortium and now through the Digital Access Coalition, helping to elevate community voices and turn awareness into coordinated action.
About Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP): Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) is a regional member-supported nonprofit organization consisting of public, private, and civic entities located throughout the counties of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz. Founded in 2015, our mission is to improve the economic health and quality of life in the region.