Appalachia Digital Accelerator
City of Pittsburgh
Ed Gainey, Mayor of Pittsburgh, is dedicated to closing the digital divide and ensuring all residents have access to affordable, high-speed internet. With support from the Appalachia Digital Accelerator, a team in the Dept. of Innovation & Performance (I&P) evaluated practical opportunities to ensure that every resident will be able access the online services and programs they need to thrive in the spaces and places that work best for them. This effort resulted in several proposals now under consideration to extend broadband infrastructure, augment internet services for high-need neighborhoods, and position Pittsburgh as a leader with a growing digital economy where no one gets left behind.
The City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania will address the community’s stated goal of having accessible and affordable high-speed internet services available to all residents by focusing on building the telecommunications infrastructure needed to achieve this by 2030. Mayor Gainey’s administration plans to grow the digital economy and propel Pittsburgh to become a high-tech hub while ensuring that all residents are benefitting from the opportunities these changes will generate. The details of the Mayor’s implementation plans will be shared with the public over the course of 2025 as stakeholders are aligned, work plans are solidified, and funding mechanisms are identified. Those interested in supporting these efforts are encouraged to connect with the City’s Dept. of Innovation & Performance to learn more.
The Appalachia Digital Accelerator was instrumental in our ability to identify the best ideas for Pittsburgh to begin implementing in 2025. The information and data supplied, connections to colleagues provided, and numerous resources shared over the past year generated invaluable learning and insights that will continue to guide our actions in the years to come.
What’s next
The Gainey Administration is working with community leaders and stakeholder organizations now and plans to announce the launch of several new programs in 2025 to address the digital equity needs of Pittsburghers and expand the online opportunities everyone needs to grow and thrive in our digital world.
The city of Pittsburgh will work in collaboration with community digital equity advocates, service organizations, businesses and education institutions to design and deploy enhancements to IT infrastructure that makes sense for our residents and region.
Low income households and designated high-need neighborhoods will be prioritized for making low cost and no cost internet connections available.
Pittsburgh will invest in the telecommunications infrastructure necessary to provide expanded opportunities for economic growth and job creation while ensuring that all residents are benefitting from the continued transformation toward a high-tech hub of innovation.
Pittsburgh Digital Equity Coalition
The City’s Plan builds on the work of the Pittsburgh Digital Equity Coalition — a working group of anchor organizations and community groups working to promote digital equity.
A project in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), which contributed $6.3 million (80% of the total project cost).
