PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – In alignment with the City of Long Beach’s vision to address the digital divide, the Economic Development Department, in collaboration with the Technology and Innovation Department, today will resume offering its Digital Inclusion Resources Hotline (Hotline). The Hotline connects the Long Beach community to digital inclusion resources, services and language interpretation services.

“This resource hotline will once again provide critical information about internet and computer services for our residents and business owners to help ensure they have the proper tools to succeed,” said Mayor Robert Garcia.

A team of digital inclusion navigators will be available via email and by phone on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to direct residents and business owners to information about free and low-cost internet services, computing devices, digital literacy training, and more. One-on-one assistance and language interpretation services will be available for callers in English and Spanish through the digital inclusion navigators, with language interpretation services in Khmer and Tagalog available upon request.

Hotline resources are available by calling 562.570.7000 or by emailing digitalinclusion@longbeach.gov. 

Originally made possible through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) in 2020, the Hotline received more than 2,400 inquiries from residents from October 2020 to March 2021. In partnership with digital inclusion partners, collectively, the Hotline connected more than 1,000 free internet hotspots and 1,500 free computing devices to communities most in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With new funding through the Long Beach Recovery Act (LB Recovery Act), the Hotline can once again provide support to the community. The LB Recovery Act is a plan to fund economic and public health initiatives for residents, workers and businesses critically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of $1.4 million has been allocated from the Recovery Act to support the City’s digital inclusion efforts in alignment with the City’s Digital Inclusion Initiative. This funding will also provide free mobile hotspots with one-year paid internet service plans and computing devices (e.g. Chromebooks) for eligible residents later this summer. More information about this service opportunity will be available at a later date.

Additionally, the City, in partnership with community members and local cross-sector partners, has created its first Digital Inclusion Roadmap, a comprehensive strategic plan which centers a collective impact approach and equity lens through its outlined vision, goals, objectives and strategies. This strategic plan will ensure that everyone in Long Beach has equitable access and use of digital inclusion resources and services regardless of background, neighborhood or identity.

For more information about the City’s Digital Inclusion Initiative and Roadmap, visit longbeach.gov/digitalinclusion. Additional information about the Long Beach Recovery Act is available at longbeach.gov/recovery.