City and County of San Francisco Named One of Nation’s Visionary Digital Inclusion Trailblazers for 2025

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) named the City and County of San Francisco as a 2025 Visionary Digital Inclusion Trailblazer – the highest national honor for excellence in digital equity and government innovation – recognizing the City's efforts to close the digital divide.

Digital inclusion – access to affordable high-speed internet, devices, and digital skills training – is essential to participating and thriving in today’s world. Through a collaborative network of City departments and local partners, San Francisco is proudly deploying digital resources designed to remove barriers and expand opportunity. By providing ready access to high-speed internet and modern technology, San Francisco is successfully bridging the digital divide and ensuring every resident can thrive in the modern age. The City leverages its expertise in building and operating fiber networks for core government services to advance digital equity and affordability through free broadband service to affordable housing residents.

“The 2025 Digital Equity Visionary Trailblazer Award honors San Francisco’s belief that access to technology is a right, not a privilege, and reflects the collective work of our community partners, residents, and City teams,” said Reymon LaChaux, San Francisco Digital Equity Manager. “We take this recognition not as a finish line, but as fuel to keep building a more connected, equitable future for all.”

This year, The City and County of San Francisco joins 58 other Digital Inclusion Trailblazers paving the way for digitally inclusive communities across the US.

“San Francisco’s digital equity work is about dignity and affordability,” said Michael Makstman, San Francisco Chief Information Officer. “By providing free broadband internet to more than 24,000 disadvantaged households, our Fiber to Public Housing program delivers an estimated $18 million in annual savings to help families afford other essential needs.”

“Nonprofits, libraries, churches, and other community organizations can’t reach digital equity on their own. For everyone to thrive in today’s digital world, we need all hands on deck,” said Angela Siefer, NDIA executive director. “NDIA’s Digital Inclusion Trailblazer program exemplifies the key role of local governments in building digital opportunities for all of their residents.”

Building a truly inclusive digital future requires more than just infrastructure; it requires a vision that puts people first. San Francisco’s success offers a compelling model for how local governments can thrive by aligning their initiatives with the lived experiences of the community. By continuously adapting its programs to meet the specific needs of its most vulnerable residents, the City demonstrates a deep-seated commitment to responsive and equitable public service.

As a recognized Visionary Trailblazer, the City and County has placed digital equity at the heart of its mission, ensuring that every resident has the tools they need to succeed. This milestone was achieved by prioritizing resident needs through:

• Broadband adoption and affordability, such as the award-winning Fiber to Housing program;
• Digital navigation, such as the SF Connected program;
• Device access and digital skills training, offered by community-based organizations such Dev/Mission, digitalLIFT, and PRC; and
• Countless other digital tools and resources delivered through a network of outstanding community partners, including San Francisco’s FY2024-25 SF Bridge Digital Equity Programs Grant recipients.

The Trailblazer program identifies seven categories of current best practices. Each applicant’s materials are verified for accuracy, assessed for community impact, and posted in an interactive map and searchable database on NDIA’s website. By sharing materials with open-sourcing, NDIA provides community advocates and local governments ways to continue learning, connect with trailblazing peers, and plan their own digital inclusion solutions.

The City remains steadfast in its commitment to evolving alongside technology to meet the changing needs of residents. San Francisco will continue to innovate, invest, and collaborate with community partners to ensure that the digital divide becomes a thing of the past, fostering a future where digital fluency and access are a reality for every resident.

For more information about the San Francisco Digital Equity Initiative, visit www.sf.gov/digital-equity.

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About National Digital Inclusion Alliance: NDIA advances digital equity by supporting community programs and equipping policymakers to act. Working collaboratively with over 2000 affiliates, NDIA advocates for equitable broadband access, tech devices, digital skills training, and tech support. For more information, visit digitalinclusion.org.