The Issues
Today, Central Valley communities are facing unprecedented challenges because of the digital divide, which limits regional economic growth as well as access to education and healthcare.
Due to systematic underinvestment in broadband infrastructure, high poverty urban areas in Fresno have very limited access to fast, affordable internet.
Across the Central Valley, rural and high poverty urban areas are some of California’s most disconnected.
27%
residents in the City of Fresno are unserved
35%
of Madera County households do not have internet speeds that meet minimum standards for broadband
10-15%
of households in Kings and Tulare counties do not have internet speeds that meet minimum standards for broadband
1 in 5
households are not connected to broadband in California. The primary barrier to access is affordability
These connectivity gaps create real-world barriers across daily life in the Central Valley, including – but not limited to – the following:
• Without high-speed internet and devices, Central Valley students fall behind, scoring below state averages and facing lasting setbacks.
• In rural areas, limited healthcare makes telehealth essential—but without broadband, many residents can’t access it.
• Digital skills are key to the Central Valley workforce. 78% of middle-skill jobs require them, and half of job seekers apply online by smartphone.
Our Coalition
Connect The Valley (CtV) is a project of the Fresno Coalition for Digital Inclusion, the leading facilitator of the broadband chapter of the Sierra San Joaquin Jobs plan (S2J2). This four-county initiative is committed to creating quality jobs and equitable economic access for all residents in the Sierra San Joaquin region.
FCDI leads development of CtV strategies, action plans, and advocacy priorities, oversees the project coordinator and outreach lead, and serves as the primary steward of coalition direction. Their leadership is guided by the recommendations they developed as leading stakeholders in the S2J2 plan.
OUR TEAM
CtV is headed up by a small-but-mighty duo that is dedicated to bridging the digital divide. They are guided by the FCDI board of directors, comprised of:
Kevin Miller, President
Bryan Harley, Treasurer
Bobby Coulter, Secretary
Patience Milrod, Director
Edgar Rodriguez, Director
CtV Leadership
Lindsey Skolnik
CtV Project Coordinator
The main point of contact for all CtV members and affiliates, Lindsey manages day-to-day coalition activities, campaigns, and initiatives and regularly shares updates and collaboration opportunities. She co-manages internal and external communications with our outreach lead, Haley.
Haley White
CtV Outreach Lead
Haley identifies key partners across our four-county region and organizes outreach meetings and engagement events. She shares information on coalition efforts with prospective partners and co-manages communications with our project coordinator, Lindsey.
CtV Members
