DIGITALC AND MICROSOFT RELEASE DRIVEN TO CONNECT DOCUMENTARY CAPTURING CLEVELAND'S CONNECTIVITY MOVEMENT
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CLEVELAND, March 3, 2025 ~ Cleveland, Ohio - A new documentary, Driven to Connect, produced by DigitalC with support from Microsoft Airband, is capturing the city's connectivity movement. The film chronicles the first year of a four-year plan to connect thousands of Cleveland residents to high-speed home internet and digital skills training. This effort aims to position Cleveland as a leader in connectivity, moving from being one of the least connected cities in the nation to becoming a model for others.

The premiere of Driven to Connect was held on February 27 at CMSD Arnold Pinkney East Professional Center in collaboration with Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD). The event was attended by local elected officials, internet subscribers, vendors, board members, and community leaders who came together to celebrate the city's digital future.

DigitalC CEO Joshua Edmonds welcomed attendees to the premiere and spoke about the importance of expanding high-speed home internet access and building a stronger, connected community. He highlighted DigitalC's goal of connecting 23,500 households to 100/100 Mbps internet for $18/month and providing digital skills training to 50,000 residents by the end of 2027.

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"We are making history in delivering on our promise to connect Cleveland and documenting the journey for others," said Edmonds. "This approach is centered on residents - when they feel joy at a connection and rally behind their community-based internet service provider, that is purpose fulfilled."

Microsoft Airband Initiative Partnership Manager Shunda Leecost also spoke at the event, praising DigitalC's efforts in bridging the digital divide. "DigitalC sets an example of how broadband solutions combined with community storytelling can drive lasting impact," said Leecost. "We have been a proud partner of DigitalC since 2021 and have seen their growth from primarily offering digital skills training to now delivering high-speed home internet."

The documentary, produced by Perspective Filmworks LLC, showcases how broadband access has impacted Cleveland residents. It highlights stories of how high-speed internet has enabled telehealth, education, and created new economic opportunities for the community.

"This initiative is not just about providing internet access, but also about building a stronger community," said Wesley Wood, Driven to Connect Film Director and Founder at Perspective Filmworks LLC. "Storytelling gives power to the people - amplifying their struggles, their victories, their voices. In Cleveland, we're proving what's possible and telling the story of how it's done."

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As part of the event, DigitalC and CMSD set up Digital Gradebook Activation Stations to encourage parents to activate accounts to track student progress. Attendees also engaged in discussions about DigitalC's plans for network expansion and ways to support the initiative during a Q&A session.

"The documentary illustrates what's possible when multiple sectors align with nonprofits to solve a real problem," said Curtis Timmons, Chief Information Officer at CMSD and Board Member at DigitalC. "Cleveland is proving that when you combine a people-first mindset with a commitment to cutting-edge technology solutions, you can change the future path for our scholars."

The event was made possible through support from sponsors such as CTI Connect, Tarana Wireless Inc., WAV LLC., Crown Castle, and Winncom Technologies.

The Driven to Connect documentary is now available on YouTube for everyone to watch and learn from Cleveland's journey towards connectivity: https://bit.ly/driventoconnectdoc. With this initiative and documentary, Cleveland is paving the way for other cities to follow in its footsteps in closing the digital divide and building stronger communities through connectivity.

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