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Board member Curtis Timmons, advisor Augie Napoli, and CEO Joshua Edmonds celebrate 2026 Best of Tech Award for Education and Training from the Greater Cleveland Partnership
Not long ago, DigitalC was trying to prove that a community-based broadband network could help close Cleveland's digital divide. Today, after completing a citywide network, surpassing 12,000 households connected, and earning international recognition from the broadband industry, the organization is focused on a different opportunity: building a sustainable model that can bring Cleveland's approach to communities across the country.
The organization's progress was fueled in part by early philanthropic investment. A 2021 grant of $18 million from the Mandel Foundation served as a call to action and catalyst for city and state leadership. Through a combination of public and private investment, DigitalC brought internet access and digital literacy services to thousands of households across Cleveland, expanding equitable access to an essential utility in neighborhoods across the city.
That progress is drawing attention. Recently, DigitalC received multiple industry awards, including the national Broadband Communities' Provider of the Year, and was named a finalist for the World Communication Awards in London. The honors place the Cleveland-based organization among some of the largest and most established telecommunications providers in the world, a remarkable milestone for a nonprofit focused on expanding affordable internet access and digital skills training.
Josh Edmonds onstage with industry colleagues after receiving three national awards on behalf of DigitalC at the Broadband Communities' Summit.
As its visibility grows, so does interest in the model. DigitalC has already launched work in Detroit, where pilot projects are connecting hundreds of households, and other communities have begun exploring how Cleveland's approach might be adapted to meet their own digital equity challenges.
"A few years ago, the question was whether this model could work at all. Today, the question is 'how far can it go?' We've moved from proving that community-based broadband is possible to building an organization that can sustain and scale that impact,” said CEO Josh Edmonds. “What started in Cleveland is now helping shape conversations in other communities, and we're committed to ensuring the model is strong enough to serve them for years to come."
Part of what once made the effort seem improbable was that the technology needed to deliver citywide broadband was still emerging. Advances in fixed-wireless technology eventually made it possible for signals to navigate Cleveland's urban landscape—traveling through neighborhood tree canopies and reflecting off buildings to reach homes across the city.
For DigitalC's leadership, the next phase is building the organizational, financial and operational capacity needed to sustain that growth. New service offerings, strategic partnerships and investments in infrastructure are intended to ensure the organization can continue advancing its mission while expanding its impact.
DigitalC's leaders view connectivity as a starting point rather than an end goal. Affordable, high-quality home internet can serve as a force multiplier, improving access to education, workforce opportunities, healthcare and other essential resources.
“Joshua and the team continue to deliver in Cleveland against aggressive growth targets, proving that affordable, high-quality internet access and training could change lives and strengthen communities,” shared Jim Fox, DigitalC Board Chair. “The next chapter is building a durable institution that can scale that impact for years to come. The board and the leadership team are working to strengthen the foundation for growth and sustainability, allowing for continued progress toward our ambitious mission of bridging the digital divide.”
As DigitalC enters this next chapter, Mandel Foundation support has evolved as well, from helping launch an ambitious concept to strengthening the leadership, governance and long-term structures required for lasting impact.
