Long Beach was recently recognized as one of the country\u2019s top digital cities for its digital equity work and programming, something officials say is an effort that won\u2019t lose steam in 2026 despite federal funding cuts.<\/p>\n
The survey was from the national research and advisory institute, the Center for Digital Government<\/a>, which focuses on policies and practices in state and local governments. Long Beach was among five cities nationwide to grab high marks in the Digital Cities Survey, which looks at how local governments use technology to address social challenges.<\/p>\n Lea Erikson, Long Beach\u2019s director of technology, credited the recognition to the city\u2019s approach to digital equity.<\/p>\n \u201cWe’re not relying on federal funds to advance our work. And so even though it does definitely minimize what we can do, I’m really proud of what we have been able to do despite that,\u201d Erikson said.<\/p>\n Why was Long Beach named?\u00a0<\/p>\n Over the years, the coastal L.A. County city has grown into an epicenter for digital equity to grant more residents access to the internet. <\/p>\n According to the survey, the city advanced digital equity, among other things, through programs such as its \u201cPitch Long Beach!\u201d \u2014 an initiative that allows the public to submit pitches on how to implement and explore technology as a way to improve city services.<\/p>\n Long Beach has also partnered with the California Emerging Technology Fund to launch a multilingual internet service enrollment hotline to help residents navigate telehealth, job searching and online learning.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the things I think makes Long Beach a leader in this space is we have a dedicated staff to digital inclusion, and they’re not dependent on federal funds, so they’re actually funded by local government resources,\u201d Erikson said.<\/p>\n Why are programs at risk?\u00a0<\/p>\n In May, the Trump administration canceled the $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act,<\/a> which the president called \u201cracist\u201d and \u201cillegal.\u201d<\/p>\n The cancellation put a stop to programs all over the country, including digital courses for seniors and laptop distributions in rural areas.<\/p>\n The Federal Communications Commission voted in September to end E-Rate discounts to libraries and schools for hotspot lending<\/a> and school bus Wi-Fi. Officials said the initiatives \u201cexceeded\u201d or were \u201cinconsistent\u201d with the commission’s authority. This decision effectively shut off funding for digital loaning programs.<\/p>\n Locally, the repercussions were felt instantly. Los Angeles County Library announced it would sunset its laptop and Wi-Fi hotspot lending programs<\/a> shortly after the decision.<\/p>\n What are officials saying for 2026 and beyond?\u00a0<\/p>\n Erikson said federal headwinds won\u2019t stop the city\u2019s digital equity work.<\/p>\n