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Initiatives and Projects
The Digital Equity Coalition supports initiatives that improve digital access, literacy, and inclusion across Santa Barbara County. Our impact spans partnerships, training programs, device distribution, and infrastructure expansion—ensuring that every resident has the tools and knowledge to participate in today’s digital world.
2020
2021
June 2023
September 2023
December 2023
December 2023
2023
2024
Pandemic Highlights Digital Divide
The pandemic exposes significant digital disparities in Santa Barbara County, with 8% of residents lacking internet access. This disparity affects education, healthcare, and job opportunities, particularly for marginalized groups.
DEC Formed
The Santa Barbara Foundation, alongside other key partners, forms the Digital Equity Coalition (DEC) to address the digital divide. The coalition focuses on affordability, device access, digital literacy, and supporting community organizations.
SDEP/BEAD Conference
The DEC helps lead the SDEP/BEAD workshop in Santa Maria, where over 100 participants contribute to shaping state and federal plans aimed at closing the digital divide. Input from this event supports the allocation of $42.45 billion in federal funding for digital equity.
Digital Equity Bill of Rights
DEC supports the passage of CA AB414, which Governor Newsom signs into law, recognizing digital access as a civil right in California.
Draft State Digital Equity Plan (SDEP)
The DEC helps lead the SDEP/BEAD workshop in Santa Maria, where over 100 participants contribute to shaping state and federal plans aimed at closing the digital divide. Input from this event supports the allocation of $42.45 billion in federal funding for digital equity.
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Enrollment Success
DEC’s efforts boost ACP enrollment in Santa Barbara County to approximately 67%, ensuring more households can afford reliable internet access.
North County Broadband Survey
DEC funds a pilot survey in Guadalupe to assess broadband needs and promote equitable access. The results aim to guide future broadband projects in other cities across the county.
Launch of the Access to Technology (ATT) Project
The Santa Barbara Foundation partners with local nonprofits to provide older adults and people with disabilities in Santa Barbara County with free devices and digital skills training, empowering communities to connect and thrive in the digital world.
Infrastructure Improvement Projects
Technical Support Services
Affordable Broadband Programs
Community Outreach and Capacity Building
Advocacy and Policy Influence
Digital Literacy Training
Access to Technology (ATT) Project: Empowering Santa Barbara Communities
Launched in July 2024, the Santa Barbara Foundation’s Access to Technology (ATT) project aims to bridge the digital divide in Santa Barbara County. Through this effort, the Foundation partners with local nonprofits to help older adults and people with disabilities get online. Together, they provide essential tools, skills, and support to foster digital connection and inclusion.
Project Overview
The ATT Project provides local nonprofits with the tools they need to offer free devices and digital skills training to underserved residents across Santa Barbara County. Each program is tailored to meet the unique needs of the community, allowing partners to deliver personalized support that creates lasting impact.
What the ATT Project Provides
Each nonprofit partner receives:
Technological Devices: Partners distributed free devices—including Samsung tablets, iPads, Chromebooks, and smartphones—to eligible community members.
Staff Training: Community Tech Network (CTN) provided capacity-building sessions to train nonprofit staff and volunteers as digital navigators. These sessions prepared them to lead digital skills classes and connect participants to resources like affordable internet plans.
Marketing Support: Customized flyers and handouts were developed for each partner to help promote their classes and device distribution efforts—easing the outreach burden on nonprofits.
Tailored Community Solutions
Each of the five local nonprofit partners—American GI Forum, CommUnify, Community Partners in Caring, Family Service Agency, and Independent Living Resource Center—adapted their digital inclusion efforts to meet the unique needs of the communities they serve.
A Sustainable and Community-Driven Approach
The ATT project is grounded in the belief that community-driven solutions create lasting change. Each nonprofit partner had full control over their program—choosing which devices to distribute and how to deliver digital skills training. By training local staff and volunteers, the project ensures that knowledge stays within the community, supporting long-term digital inclusion.
As part of the Santa Barbara Foundation’s broader digital equity efforts, the ATT project is a key step toward ensuring that all residents—regardless of age or ability—have the tools and skills they need to thrive in a connected world.
For example, Community Partners in Caring pairs homebound older adults with volunteers who offer one-on-one, in-home technology training. CommUnify hosts group classes at multiple locations across the county. Most partners provide instruction in both Spanish and English, while the American GI Forum also offers training in Mixtec, an Indigenous language spoken in parts of southern Mexico.
