Meet DigitalC: Building Broadband by Cleveland, for Cleveland, and Beyond

As Chief Executive Officer of DigitalC, Cleveland’s nonprofit internet provider and hub for digital skills training and coworking, Joshua Edmonds speaks with the determination of someone who knows what it’s like for his hometown to be overlooked. “Being from here, you desperately want to win in a city like Cleveland, where you’re often defined by your losses,” he said. For too long, Cleveland has appeared on the list of America’s least-connected cities. 

Thanks to the work of DigitalC, that story has changed.

Founded to connect neighborhoods left behind by incumbents, DigitalC has grown into more than just a broadband provider. Today, its network, which connects residents to Canopy service at $18/month, is approaching 6,000 households, with a goal of reaching 23,500 by 2028. But connectivity through Canopy is just one piece of the puzzle. 

DigitalC also provides digital skills training through Click and a co-working space at MidTown Tech Hive where the nonprofit is headquartered – all with the goal of creating trusted, reliable spaces and opportunities where residents can build the confidence and skills to thrive online. Since 2024, Click has delivered over 16,000 trainings to more than 12,000 unique residents. “Progress moves at the speed of trust, not at the speed of our networks,” Edmonds emphasized, remarking about the understandable skepticism many local residents faced when signing up for programs like the ACP.

DigitalC’s growth is backed by a mix of philanthropy, private and public investment. Early support came through pilot programs funded by the Cleveland Foundation, alongside grants from companies like Google and Microsoft. In 2022, the nonprofit secured $10 million from the State of Ohio, with additional fundraising bringing millions more from the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Foundation and David & Inez Myers Foundation. That investment paved the way for a catalytic milestone: in 2023, the City of Cleveland awarded DigitalC a $20 million ARPA allocation through a competitive RFP, launching a four-year initiative now entering its second year.

Edmonds credits storytelling as a critical part of building support: “We can’t understate the power of narrative when it comes to resource allocation. We’re proving impact story by story, household by household.”

Residents are paying attention, too. According to a recent survey from the City of Cleveland, 90% of those surveyed say they are receiving the speeds they were promised, 89% value DigitalC’s pricing, and 87% of respondents report reliable, consistent service. With a rating that would make any incumbent envious, 84% of residents would recommend DigitalC to their neighbors.

As the nonprofit’s work gains steam beyond Ohio, DigitalC has recently expanded to Detroit, where Edmonds previously served as the Director of Digital Inclusion. Through stronger community relationships, long-term sustainability, and measurable impact, DigitalC is leaning into enterprise-level services. Whether through fixed wireless, leveraging bandwidth for public-sector networks, or new innovations, the goal is to become a “full-fledged telecommunications provider without losing sight of the mission.” 

In Detroit, that commitment is taking shape through a pilot with the Rocket Community Fund and Detroit Housing Commission to bring free high-speed internet to 450 families, with Merit Network and Wayne State University providing the fiber backbone and DigitalC serving as the internet service provider.  As Edmonds puts it, the future means using every part of the organization’s capacity to deliver value and opportunity for the community.

Still yet, Edmonds doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges for other communities considering building their own networks. “You’re going to be attacked,” he cautioned. “There will be gut punches. But if you have the resolve, full steam ahead.”

As a member of AAPB, Edmonds sees solidarity in the public broadband fight as key to a community’s success. “Gigi [Sohn] isn’t afraid to stand tall, toes down. We’re all fighting the same adversary. Sometimes you just need backup, and that’s where AAPB comes in.” 

People often ask Edmonds what the “C” in DigitalC stands for: whether it’s Cleveland, community, communication, collaboration, culture - all are crucial components of DigitalC’s journey, which underscores what’s possible when communities take their digital future into their own hands. From Cleveland to Detroit and beyond, DigitalC is showing that broadband built by the community, for the community, is not just possible, it’s powerful.