Digital Inclusion and Broadband Strategy

San José envisions a future where all residents and businesses have the internet access and skills needed to participate in and benefit from the digital economy, particularly those who have been historically under-represented or underserved.   

The City began its digital equity efforts in 2016 after discovering that approximately 100,000 residents were not connected to high-speed, broadband internet in San José.  In 2017, the City adopted the Digital Inclusion and Broadband Strategy with the goal to close the digital divide through public-private partnerships. 

Partnerships and programs to close the digital divide include:

• SJ Access
• Small Cell deployment

The digital divide is changing in San José and there is still work to do. Currently, about 41,000 households in San José are unconnected –  with no high-speed broadband connection at home – or under-connected – with low-speed, unaffordable, unreliable, or temporary internet at home. Another 25,500 households are digitally disadvantaged – with no computing device or relying on only a smart phone for internet access, which for some is not suitable for taking full advantage of the digital economy.

San José aims to become a multi-Gigabit city by 2030. Following six years of progress achieved through the 2017 strategy the City is now working with Guidehouse Inc. to assess and re-calibrate the City's strategy for the future.

This project with Guidehouse Inc. will refine the citywide strategy to achieve the goals of:

• Improving the City's existing digital infrastructure to support San Jose's Smart City Vision and improve digital inclusion;
• Understanding options to improve residential and business broadband internet choices,
  quality and pricing; and
• Promoting availability of gigabit level broadband internet to support economic development
  and inclusion.

Additional Information

• 2017 Strategy Report