Los Angeles County Internal Services Department
HR&A supported Los Angeles County in designing and delivering a countywide broadband and digital inclusion strategy to close the digital divide. Our work spanned wireless network planning, public asset analysis, market engagement, competitive procurement, and program design—unlocking $56 million in federal funding and enabling affordable, high-speed internet service for more than 300,000 households across urban and rural communities.
HR&A worked closely with the Los Angeles County Internal Services Department across multiple phases to design a scalable broadband delivery model. In the initial phase, HR&A developed a comprehensive action plan for community wireless networks, leveraging the County’s millions of square feet of controlled property across diverse geographies with low broadband adoption. We analyzed building heights, site conditions, and infrastructure constraints to identify optimal locations for CBRS and unlicensed 5GHz wireless deployment, establishing clear siting criteria and prioritizing neighborhoods most impacted by digital inequities.
Building on this strategic foundation, HR&A designed the County’s Community Broadband Networks initiative and led the end-to-end competitive solicitation process. Our work included market outreach to fiber and wireless providers, development of technical and business requirements, drafting solicitation documents, and creation of a rigorous evaluation framework to assess vendor qualifications, financial capacity, service quality, and affordability. HR&A administered multiple work order solicitations and supported proposal review, ensuring alignment between technical performance and community-focused outcomes.
In parallel, HR&A supported the County’s broader digital inclusion goals by helping design a Digital Navigator program. Through engagement with more than 30 community-based organizations, we developed implementation strategies, identified sustainable funding sources, and aligned digital literacy and access efforts with the broadband network rollout to maximize household adoption and long-term impact.
HR&A’s work enabled Los Angeles County to secure $56 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding and culminated in a landmark public-private broadband agreement announced in May 2024. The resulting initiative delivers one of the nation’s most competitive offerings—symmetrical 500/500 Mbps service for $25 per month for low-income households—while catalyzing private investment in historically underserved communities and establishing a national model for equitable broadband deployment.
- L.A. County to offer discounted home internet to lower-income residents in some neighborhoods — LA Times
- Los Angeles County And Welink Sign Historic Public-Private Partnership To Bring High-Speed, Low-Cost Internet Options To Areas Greatly Impacted By The Digital Divide — LA County
- Los Angeles County chooses WeLink to serve FWA to 275,000 locations — Fierce Network
- Bridging the Digital Divide in LA County - Episode 608 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast — Fierce Network
- LA County To Offer $25 Internet Plans For Low-Income Households In East And South LA — LAist
