In digitally distressed neighborhoods, internet access often determines whether residents can thrive. Recognizing this, UNITE-LA is working with community leaders in the Antelope Valley and Pacoima to expand available service providers and service plan offerings. Supported by a Michelson Spark Grant, UNITE-LA’s efforts place community needs at the center of broadband design. The Spark Grant will help two communities in California move from planning to the implementation of broadband solutions. 

Antelope Valley: A New Model for Public Broadband

In the Antelope Valley, some neighborhoods do not have a single wireline internet service provider. The Community Coalition of the Antelope Valley (CoCoAV) is taking the lead to address this. Together with UNITE-LA, they will create a Joint Powers Authority (JPA), a public entity that will oversee a community-owned broadband network.

The Spark Grant funds will help bring the JPA to life. Once formed, the JPA will position Antelope Valley to apply for additional infrastructure funding. Unlike for-profit internet providers, this model prioritizes public benefit. By pooling demand across jurisdictions, it will reduce costs, attract investment, and deliver reliable internet where families need it most.

Pacoima: Organizing for Affordable Access

In Pacoima, residents have service options, but many face unaffordable or unreliable internet. Countless households pay more than $95 per month or rely on mobile hotspots. To address this inequity, the Pacoima Equity Group, together with UNITE-LA, will launch a Broadband Taskforce.

The Taskforce will bring the community together to design solutions from the ground up. Funds will cover community outreach, stakeholder convenings, and public education materials. The effort is already exploring creative models, including using a local charter school as a potential network hub.

A Shift Toward Community Power

Together, these initiatives represent a paradigm shift. Instead of waiting for large internet providers to expand into low-income neighborhoods, communities are building the systems themselves. By creating sustainable governance structures, the Antelope Valley and Pacoima are laying the foundation for long-term, sustainable digital equity.

Cristal Mojica, Senior Program Manager for Digital Equity at Michelson 20MM, emphasized the importance of this approach: “UNITE-LA’s project shows how communities can take ownership of their digital futures. By leading their own broadband solutions, the Antelope Valley and Pacoima are proving that equity and affordability go hand in hand.”

Beyond Two Communities: A Scalable Model

While rooted in local action, these projects offer an example for the entire state. UNITE-LA will document best practices and share replicable toolkits, enabling other underserved communities across the county to follow suit. By formalizing structures such as the Antelope Valley JPA and Pacoima Taskforce, these efforts will shape how broadband policy is developed in California and build upon the early and continued success of UNITE-LA’s LA DEAL consortium. LA DEAL was first launched with the support of a 2021 Digital Equity Spark Grant.

Looking Ahead

Broadband is more than a utility, it is a lifeline to education, work, healthcare, and civic participation. With the support of the Spark Grant, UNITE-LA is forging a new path forward, one in which communities build their own networks, advocate for their own needs, and ensure that no one is left offline.

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About Michelson 20MM

Michelson 20MM is a private, nonprofit foundation working toward equity for underserved and historically underrepresented communities by expanding access to educational and employment opportunities, increasing affordability of educational programs, and ensuring the necessary supports are in place for individuals to thrive. To do so, we work in the following verticals: Digital Equity, Intellectual Property, Smart Justice, Student Basic Needs, and Open Educational Resources (OER). Co-chaired and funded by Alya and Gary Michelson, Michelson 20MM is part of the Michelson Philanthropies network of foundations.