Digital equity refers to the principle that all individuals should have the necessary technological resources to fully engage in our society, democracy, and economy. In today’s world, having the ability to access and utilize the internet, computers, and related technologies has become essential. Technology is revolutionizing key aspects of our lives, including employment, education, and healthcare. However, many community members still lack reliable internet access at home, with seniors, people with disabilities, and those with the lowest incomes being the most vulnerable.

In September 2022, the City of Vacaville finalized its Broadband Master Plan, which offers a comprehensive yet high-level implementation strategy and roadmap for designing, building, and launching the city's broadband initiatives. This plan aligns closely with the city's overall strategic goals and vision for broadband development. It also functions as a guiding framework to address digital exclusion and its effects on residents throughout Vacaville.  As part of the City's Strategic Plan, the City seeks to "understand and balance our citizen's needs, desires, and resources to achieve the highest possible quality of life for the overall community through the provision of excellent services."

To ensure broadband access is equitable and all residents are digitally included, it is essential to integrate equity and inclusion into the strategic planning process through active community engagement. The following inclusive approach, centered on community involvement, helps align the City’s broadband development with the priorities of its residents:

• Share this plan with the community and actively gather and incorporate their feedback; and
• Define and execute the plan by acquiring, allocating, and deploying resources to develop infrastructure in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.

Residents of Vacaville require flexible access to their city and the broader world through a modern, integrated network infrastructure. This infrastructure should be supported by a range of private companies offering affordable services to all community members, enabling the City of Vacaville to enhance, expand, and innovate its services effectively.

Elements of the Vision:

• Enabling Citizens - including corporate and institutional citizens - to flexibly connect.
• Ensuring the infrastructure is used by private companies to provide economical services to everyone, and
• Establishing a platform for the City to improve, increase and innovate services.

Input data from the community and partners identified four primary barriers to community access and the attainment of Digital Equity in the City of Vacaville:

• Internet Performance
  Many residents encounter issues with poor and unreliable connectivity.
• Internet Availability
  Limited access to dependable infrastructure and internet options, particularly within affordable housing, poses a significant challenge.
• Internet Affordability
  The primary obstacle preventing residents from going online is the high cost of service plans.
• Additional Considerations
  Factors including a monopolistic or duopoly market structure, as well as anti-competitive practices within multi-dwelling units, can also present challenges.

In May 2022, Magellan conducted a community survey to evaluate internet service gaps, analyze trends in broadband demand, and identify key locations such as businesses, community anchor institutions, and government facilities that require enhanced digital connectivity. The survey included an online questionnaire designed to gather information from households and organizations. To reach those without internet access, a shorter paper survey was also distributed, which also functioned as a flyer promoting the online option. Both survey formats were available in English and Spanish.  The table below is a summary of survey responses.

Internet Performance

Almost half (49.3%) of respondents had broadband that did not meet the State of California's new 100/20 benchmark for broadband and 11% had sub-FCC 25/3 standard broadband.  The graph below shows a breakdown of broadband speed tests.

More than half of the respondents (52%) reported experiencing significant slowdowns in their service at least once a month. Approximately 23.7% experienced outages lasting around an hour. While more severe outages were less common, over a third (36.6%) reported experiencing outages that lasted an entire day.

Internet Availability

Some respondents lacked broadband access and instead relied on cellular, dial-up, satellite, or other types of internet service. Among these participants, reasons for not having broadband included its unavailability, slow service, or high cost.

While 27.7% of respondents indicated some level of dissatisfaction with reliability, the major source of dissatisfaction was cost.

Internet Affordability

Vacaville residents have also shared that the major source of dissatisfaction was cost, limiting their access to essential online resources and services. When internet costs are high, individuals and families may be unable to afford reliable connectivity, which can hinder their ability to access educational opportunities, employment resources, healthcare information, and government services. This digital divide can exacerbate existing socioeconomic disparities, restrict social and economic participation, and impact overall quality of life. Ensuring affordable internet access is therefore crucial for promoting equitable opportunities and fostering community development.  

Support was another major source of dissatisfaction and had the higher percentage of ambivalent responses.

For secondary digital inclusion data, please visit American Community Survey. These surveys provide comprehensive data on various demographic, social, and economic factors that can be instrumental in identifying gaps in digital access and literacy within the City of Vacaville. By analyzing the insights gathered from the American Community Survey, local policymakers and organizations can develop targeted initiatives to promote digital inclusion, ensuring that all residents have equitable access to technology and online resources.

Additional Considerations

Impacts of a Monopolistic or Duopoly Marketplace

Many Californians lack genuine options when it comes to their internet service. According to the state's Broadband for All program, limited competition among providers restricts consumer choice and drives up costs for residents. When only one provider is available, residents are compelled to pay the rates set by that incumbent provider, often resulting in higher monthly bills compared to areas with multiple providers competing for customers. Low-income consumers are especially vulnerable, as they are less likely to have alternative options and are disproportionately affected by the financial burden of any debts incurred, particularly if service is canceled due to an inability to pay a surprise bill.

Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) can enhance infrastructure development by leveraging private sector expertise and investment, leading to improved network coverage and quality. Secondly, a PPP can facilitate cost-sharing, reducing the financial burden on the City while accelerating deployment and maintenance of broadband services. Additionally, such partnerships can promote innovation by combining public oversight with private sector efficiency, ultimately resulting in more competitive and accessible broadband options for residents and businesses. Furthermore, a PPP can help ensure that the broadband network aligns with the City's strategic goals, such as digital inclusion and economic development, while also providing a framework for ongoing collaboration and support. 

Anti-Competitive Practices in Multi-Dwelling Units

Internet companies engage in several anti-competitive practices that reduce the availability of reliable, high-speed Internet for residents of Vacaville. These practices include exclusivity agreements, where Internet providers establish arrangements with housing developers to install broadband infrastructure in exchange for exclusive access to the residences. Such agreements benefit developers by allowing them to transfer the costs of broadband installation to the Internet service providers, with many ISPs offering "compensation agreements" that can exceed $15,000 to the property developers. While these arrangements advantage developers and Internet companies, they restrict consumer choices and often lead to inferior service at higher prices. 

A Choice Ordinance aims to prevent owners of Multi-Dwelling Units (MDUs) from interfering with residents' ability to select their communication service providers. It will also establish requirements for service providers to gain access to MDUs and outline remedies for violations of these access provisions.

Significant progress has been made in closing the digital divide in Vacaville. The City, along with cross-sector partners, has reduced the number of households lacking access to computing devices and is actively working to increase digital literacy training opportunities, expand broadband access for all residents, and conduct community outreach to promote digital inclusion resources and services.

To date, the City of Vacaville has received $111,255 in grant funding from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and has partnered with Silicon Valley to offer digital literacy courses for senior residents. These programs aim to help participants develop a solid foundation for engaging with the digital world, empowering them to confidently and comfortably use technology to perform essential life tasks. These initiatives have led to the following achievements: 

• Provided 5 Chromebooks to digital literacy course participants
• Donated 50 laptops/desktops

The City has also contracted with Tech Exchange, a non-profit organization that addresses the digital divide through green technology solutions, to provide additional digital literacy courses for the Youth, low-income population, and the Spanish speaking demographic.

The City of Vacaville's Digital Inclusion Implementation Plan outlines a strategic approach with a three-year timeline, spanning from 2026 to the end of 2029. Throughout this period, collaboration among the City, regional entities, and cross-sector partners will be essential in building coalitions and establishing partnerships. These efforts will support initiatives focused on closing the digital divide, providing equitable access to technology, and enhancing digital literacy. The City Manager's Office will oversee the progress by monitoring and assessing the strategy's effectiveness, collecting insights and feedback from diverse stakeholders to inform ongoing improvements.

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program is being implemented in California by  the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Nationally, BEAD provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. California has been allocated approximately $1.86 billion under BEAD based on the federal government's calculation of California's share of unserved locations nationally. The Governor designated the CPUC to serve as the recipient of and administering agent for the BEAD program for California, and designated the California Department of Technology (CDT) to serve as the recipient of and administering agent for the Digital Equity Plan.

State Digital Equity Plan (SDEP)

The State of California has taken a major step toward closing the digital divide with the release of the State Digital Equity Plan. The plan will allow the state to apply for a Digital Equity Capacity Grant funded by the Digital Equity Act, which is a part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021.

California Advanced Services Fund (CASF)

Goals:

• Assist the community in establishing connections by showcasing and promoting the different agencies that offer free public Internet access and computer labs across the City of Vacaville.
• Facilitate access to Internet discount programs for residents.
• Explore developing outdoor community computer labs to enhance digital accessibility.

Internet Discount Programs

AT&T and Comcast each currently offer Internet discounts to eligible Vacaville residents.

• AT&T's Access

Access from AT&T offers affordable internet service for qualifying households. The package includes Wi-Fi and installation at no additional cost, with no equipment fees, no deposit, and no annual contract required.

Residents can obtain internet service for $30 per month with speeds up to 100 Mbps. Additionally, if eligible, residents may save $20 per month on fiber plans ranging from 300 Mbps to 1 Gbps.

• Comcast - Internet Essentials

Internet Essentials offers affordable home internet for eligible households, with plans at $14.95 per month for speeds up to 75 Mbps or $29.95 per month for speeds up to 100 Mbps. The program also includes low-cost computers, complimentary Wi-Fi hotspots, and free internet training.

Free Connectivity in Vacaville

The City and various non-profit agencies provide free public Internet at parks, rec centers, libraries, and outdoor areas throughout Vacaville.  The map below was created to help the community find locations nearby with free Wifi.