Oceanside, CA
Home MenuDigital Equity Study
It's the City's vision that all members of the Oceanside community have equitable access to affordable Internet, well-functioning digital devices, and the skills necessary to improve quality of life and thrive economically.
Through American Rescue Plan Act funding, Oceanside developed a Digital Equity Plan aimed at understanding and addressing the digital divide in our community. The pandemic greatly illuminated just how essential access to the internet is for school, work, medical care, and more. To build a deeper understanding, the City conducted a data analysis and engaged community members to gain insights into the unique challenges, barriers, and opportunities related to digital equity. A plan was developed through a community-wide effort to address the digital divide that affects thousands of people in the Oceanside community who have experienced challenges accessing and using the Internet.
The Digital Equity Plan has investigated and uncovered gaps some community members face, and provides an actionable roadmap for the City and its partners to address challenges and create opportunities for digital equity. Through this Plan, Oceanside aims to strategically advance three pillars of digital equity:
- Access to reliable Internet
- Access to digital devices; and
- Expanding and promoting digital literacy skills training
Access to High-Speed Reliable Internet
One of Oceanside’s Digital Equity Plan’s priorities is for all community members to have access to high-speed reliable internet services. Oceanside residents and businesses are expected to benefit from an agreement to install high-speed fiber network within four years. The City Council approved an agreement on May 4, 2022, with SiFi Networks Oceanside LLC, a company that will install the system on public streets at no cost to the City. SiFi will invest approximately $200 million. Once the network is completed, those areas will have access to gigabyte-speed internet service.
SiFi is installing an estimated 900 miles of fiber conduit with numerous provisions to ensure that the 12” micro-trenching work involved is managed in a way that protects existing infrastructure, does not conflict with future street repair work, and is scheduled in a manner that will minimize disruption to local streets and neighborhoods. The micro-trenching work is occuring roughly where the street meets the gutter. SiFi will own the fiber network and be responsible for repairing and maintaining it. The company then sells fiber access to internet service providers such as T-Mobile, who market their services to residents and businesses. The agreement does not require Oceanside residents or business to change their existing internet service provider, but would provide them with more and potentially higher-speed reliable choices. Check for T-Mobile availability
This effort includes a dedicated low-income program offering gigabyte speed fiber access at a current cost of $30 per month. This, and other evolving efforts helps us advance the City’s Digital Equity Plan.
Other service providers offering free or low-cost internet options in Oceanside include:
- AT&T Access
- Cox Communications Connect2Compete and Connect Assist
- T-Mobile Project 10 Million for Families with Students
In areas of Oceanside where SiFi high-speed fiber is not installed, Ubiquity is installing high-speed fiber. Ubiquity partners with FiberFirst to offer service plans in those areas, including speeds of up to 5G for homes and businesses. Check for FiberFirst availability
Access to digital devices
The Oceanside Public Library has begun a small-scale effort to provide digital devices to check out with a Library card. The Digital Equity Plan builds on this effort with a goal to expand the number and locations of availability. The City’s four Community Resource Centers also offer free bilingual computer access and training.
Digital literacy skills
The Oceanside Public Library holds digital literacy classes weekly at its Mission Branch, located at 3861-B Mission Avenue, on most Mondays from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Oceanside’s Senior Services division also offers free computer training classes for senior residents. Oceanside’s MiraCosta College offers free beginning classes for older adults at several locations. The Digital Equity Plan aims to expand these efforts through local collaborations and potentially through one-on-one training sessions.
The City of Oceanside is committed to bridging the digital divide to ensure that all residents have access to opportunities. This Digital Equity Plan will serve as a roadmap for policies, programs, and partnerships to further increase access to the Internet, digital devices, and digital literacy across our community.
Community Resources: A centralized list of digital equity programs related to device access, digital literacy, digital services, and Internet access are now available to Oceanside residents, below. This represents research from a point in time upon publication of the Oceanside Digital Equity Plan in 2022. The resources are meant to be a living resource, updated regularly to provide information on the full scope of resources available in our community.