Finance and Management Committee
June 9, 2026
ATTACHMENT A
In response to the City’s Request for Information (RFI) for Broadband and Digital Literacy Program Partners, staff received submissions from a diverse range of organizations spanning Internet Service Providers, Community‑Based Organizations, and other Public‑Sector partners.
These entities represent a broad spectrum of technical capabilities, community engagement experience, and digital equity expertise. Their responses provided valuable insights into hurdles to universal access, partnership models, and opportunities to expand digital inclusion efforts citywide.
Internet service provider respondents include regional and national carriers, wireless and fiber‑based providers, and emerging technology firms offering solutions such as Fiber‑to‑the‑Home, wireless‑fiber, private LTE/CBRS networks, and municipal‑scale smart‑city connectivity. Community‑based and non‑profit respondents bring deep experience in digital literacy training, device distribution, community outreach, and culturally responsive programming serving Oakland’s diverse populations, including seniors, immigrants, low‑income households, and youth.
The following table summarizes all entities that responded to the RFI, including their organizational type and a brief description of their services and areas of expertise. This outreach informed the City’s ongoing strategy to enhance broadband availability, leverage the City‑owned fiber network, and strengthen partnerships that promote digital equity across Oakland.
Table 1: RFI Respondent Description Table
Entity Name Entity Type Description
Althea Networks Internet
Service
Provider
Althea is one of America's fastest-growing internet
service providers with a strong and growing presence,
with a platform in six states, in both dense and remote environments and in emerging markets internationally.
With Althea’s platform, networks can be built
faster and more economically than ever before.
Althea provides a new way to access broadband
internet that enables growth in the network through a
unique system of revenue sharing. Althea was
founded in 2017 with the vision to bring the open
market and interoperable peering from the data center
to the field and empowering communities to build
multi-stakeholder networks faster and more affordable
than legacy telecom models.
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: OaklandConnect Fiber Network Partnership Legislation Date: May 22, 2026 Page 2
Finance & Management Committee
June 9, 2026
AT&T Corp Internet
Service
Provider
For over 145 years, AT&T has advanced the way
people communicate by continually integrating
emerging technologies and expanding the capabilities
of our worldwide network. With over 170,000
employees in more than 60 countries, including over
20,000 in California, AT&T is the world's largest
communications company by revenue. To meet the
ever increasing demand for bandwidth and next
generation networking, AT&T invests over $20 billion
per year in our network, including $8.5 billion invested in our California wired and wireless networks over the
last three years.
AT&T is a trusted advisor and agile thought leader for
numerous clients in the federal, state, and local
governments, and works to understand all aspects of
our client’s missions, systems, processes, operational
strategy, culture, and people to help ensure the
effectiveness and sustainment of our communications
solutions and services. Our mission is to connect
people with their world everywhere they live, work, and play — and do it better than anyone else.
AT&T is passionate about bridging the digital divide,
and our mission is to provide high speed broadband
connectivity to underserved, marginalized, and rural
communities so that everyone has equal access to the
resources they need to thrive today which requires the
ability to navigate telework, telehealth, distance
learning, and social networking. Our mission is in
alignment with the City of Oakland’s commitment to
equity and we look forward to leveraging our
experience and resources as the world’s leading
telecommunications company to connect the unique
and diverse communities in the Bay Area.
Comcast Cable
Communications,
LLC
Internet
Service
Provider
Comcast is one of the nation’s largest high-speed
Internet service providers, passing over sixty million
homes and businesses throughout thirty-nine states
and the District of Columbia, including in the City of
Oakland.
Community Tech
Network
Internet
Service
Provider
Community Tech Network (CTN) transforms lives
through digital equity. CTN believes that access to the internet is a human right, and that those without the
skills to use a computer are at risk of social and
economic disadvantage. CTN has been working to
close the digital divide since 2008 by providing
inclusive, accessible, digital literacy instruction to
vulnerable, disenfranchised, underserved, and low-
income adults and older adults who are unable to
access critical information and resources as they have
been left out of the digital revolution. Each year CTN
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: OaklandConnect Fiber Network Partnership Legislation Date: May 22, 2026 Page 3
Finance & Management Committee
June 9, 2026
provides 4,500 hours of digital literacy training to over 1,700 unique learners through 50+ partner locations in
California, Texas, New York and New Jersey.
EUCAST Global Inc Internet
Service
Provider
EUCAST Co., Ltd with operations in Seoul, Korea has
over a decade of experience, in leading mobile
wireless Private 5G/LTE/CBRS/WiFi provider for
Japan and S. Korea with over 40,000 base stations
deployed and over 400,000 daily users on their
network. With sales ranging from Japanese telecom
operators (UQ Communication, Hitachi) and providing
private networks for Japanese prefectural
governments, to Korea’s SafeNet (public safety
network), military communication network, and Korean
Telecom.
Lit Communities
Broadband Inc.
Internet
Service
Provider
Lit was founded in April 2019 with a mission to connect people to information, to ideas. Our networks support
a wide variety of other services in addition to the
internet, including but not limited to voice, telehealth, home security, home automation, small cell, DAS,
wireless backhaul, and public safety applications, such as gunshot detection sensors and smart traffic control
systems. The Lit team brings their diverse experiences
in network design, GIS, data science, engineering,
construction, municipal government, federal and state
grants consulting, private and public financing,
strategic planning, and smart cities. Our team has
leveraged this collective experience to create the
process that brings community broadband into the
21st century.
Monkeybrains Internet
Service
Provider
Founded in 1998 as a San Francisco-based ISP,
Monkeybrains brings affordable, hassle-free, high-
speed, month-to-month internet service to San
Francisco Bay Area residents and businesses.
RCN Technologies Internet
Service
Provider
RCN Technologies (RCN) is a 5G and LTE
enablement company that specializes in engineering,
design and management solutions that bring the
currencies of the 4G LTE and 5G to the enterprise,
non-profit and public sector. Our in-house Public
Hotspot Kit is designed to integrate into public spaces to provide high-availability Wi-Fi connectivity with
mesh networking and captive portal capabilities.
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: OaklandConnect Fiber Network Partnership Legislation Date: May 22, 2026 Page 4
Finance & Management Committee
June 9, 2026
SmartWave
Technologies LLC
Internet
Service
Provider
SmartWAVE Technologies (SmartWAVE) is a leading
“wireless” centric systems integrator that provides the planning, design, installation and management of
wireless networks, along with the unique applications
that these networks support. We cater to the Smart
City, Education, Healthcare and Enterprise markets,
with an operating legacy of over 15 years. Since our
founding, we’ve contributed to a number of “award
winning” networks using a variety of wireless
technologies to include Mesh WiFi, Private LTE/CBRS,
WiMAX, Massive MIMO Technologies, Terragraph
Millimeter Wave Technologies, Licensed and
Unlicense Microwave Technologies, TV Whitespace
technologies and others. As these wireless
technologies have evolved, our skillsets and product
offerings have evolved to include the ever-changing
Internet of Things (IoT). If you are looking for the
Expertise required to deploy the network and
applications throughout your Enterprise, a Campus, a
City or County, or even a Small Country, our resources
have the experience, capabilities and passion for
delivery.
Sonic.Net, LLC Internet
Service
Provider
Sonic is a full facilities-based telecommunications
provider and certificated public utility (CPCN: U7002,
decision 12-06-009). Today, Sonic is the largest ISP
located in Northern California. Services include Fiber- to-the-Anchor Institution, Municipal Services, and
cellular back-haul.
Tekniam Internet
Service
Provider
Tekniam, LLC, was founded in 2021 to bring internet
connectivity to the underserved and unserved
communities throughout the world. We are based in
Lenexa, Kansas, with offices in Denver, Colorado, and
Charlotte, North Carolina. We are a small business
with a disruptive technology.
WeLink
Communications Inc.
Internet
Service
Provider
WeLink is a company unlike any other on the market.
WeLink is a rapidly growing, award-winning internet
service provider that is leveraging our revolutionary
wireless-fiber technology to bring multi-gigabit internet service at no cost to many households who qualify for
the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and at
substantially lower prices than prevailing market rates for everyone else. WeLink’s patented mmWave mesh
network technologies extend the reach of gigabit
internet up to ten times faster and at as little as 1/50 the cost per home passed compared to traditional fiber
optic deployments. We marry this groundbreaking
technology with our approach to working hand-in-hand
with communities to deploy first where digital
infrastructure is needed most. WeLink is perhaps the
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: OaklandConnect Fiber Network Partnership Legislation Date: May 22, 2026 Page 5
Finance & Management Committee
June 9, 2026
only ISP able and willing to dismantle the false choice between performance and affordability.
Zayo Internet
Service
Provider
Zayo delivers a dedicated, high-capacity network to
support front-haul and back-haul needs with an
expansive on-net Fiber to the Tower footprint and built- in diversity.
Common Sense
Media
Non-
profit/CBO
Founded in 2003, Common Sense is dedicated to
improving the lives of kids and families by providing
the trustworthy information and independent voice to
thrive in a world of media and technology.
El Tímpano (a
fiscally sponsored
project of
Independent Arts &
Media)
Non-
profit/CBO
El Tímpano is an award-winning local news,
information, and civic engagement organization
designed with and for Latino and Mayan immigrants of
Oakland and the wider Bay Area. Since 2017, El
Tímpano has led participatory research on the
information needs of Oakland’s Spanish-speaking
residents, launched accessible channels to reach
Latino and Mayan immigrants with timely information,
and established a reputation as a trusted source for
local news. In addition to original participatory
journalism, El Tímpano partners with government
agencies and non-profit organizations to ensure that
vital information reaches Spanish-speaking residents
and that their voices are heard by public servants and
community leaders.
El Tímpano’s SMS (text-messaging) community is
composed of thousands of Latino and Maya Mam
immigrants. They include street vendors, restaurant
workers, homemakers, day laborers, parents,
grandparents, and volunteers in their community. They
primarily reside in East Oakland and range from
decades-long Bay Area residents to those who
immigrated from Latin America just weeks ago. Many
lack home computers or digital literacy, and the vast
majority do not speak English. They are an extremely
engaged audience, as nearly one in two SMS
subscribers have texted El Tímpano in the past year to
share their questions, stories, or simply words of
gratitude for keeping them informed.
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: OaklandConnect Fiber Network Partnership Legislation Date: May 22, 2026 Page 6
Finance & Management Committee
June 9, 2026
EveryoneOn Non-
profit/CBO
Please provide a short statement describing your
organization: EveryoneOn helps unlock social and
economic opportunity by connecting people in under-
resourced communities to affordable internet service
and computers and providing digital skills trainings.
The organization achieves this mission via its National Offer Locator Tool that connects people to affordable
internet and devices offers in their area. EveryoneOn
also provides one-on-one internet enrollment
assistance via its Enrollment Assistance Hotline and
in-person events, and digital skills trainings where
highly-trained instructors teach tailored curriculum to class participants based on their skill levels.
The Greenlining
Institute
Non-
profit/CBO
Founded in 1993, The Greenlining Institute is on a
mission to build a future where communities of color
can build wealth and live in healthy places.
Hack the Hood Non-
profit/CBO
Hack the Hood’s (HtH) mission is to provide youth and
communities of color, who experience the greatest
barriers to accessing tech-based learning and careers,
with tech skill-building programs and career navigation support that is grounded in justice and support
economic mobility.
Homies
Empowerment
Non-
profit/CBO
Homies Empowerment is an independent, grassroots
community-based organization out of East Oakland.
Founded as a youth-development and educational
focused organization, but with the onset of COVID-19,
we decided to stand in solidarity with the entire
community to help meet their urgent food, financial,
and other basic needs. Currently, in addition to
developing the Homies Freedom High School, we are
operating our Community Care Center, Learning
Center, FREEdom Farm and several food access
programs out of our FREEdom Store.
Human-I-T Non-
profit/CBO
Human-I-T is a social enterprise that creates equitable access to opportunity by providing devices, internet
access, digital skills training, and tech support for
communities left on the wrong side of the digital divide, while at the same time, empowering businesses and
organizations to do good by diverting technology from
landfills to protect our planet. Our vision is to inspire a world where conscious capitalism drives sustainable
and just opportunities for all people, organizations, and our planet to thrive. We live our mission by addressing the digital divide, or the disconnect between those who have access to the digital world and those who do not.
By providing people with the digital tools and
resources they need to succeed in the digital age, we
empower underserved communities to become self-
sufficient and prosperous.
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: OaklandConnect Fiber Network Partnership Legislation Date: May 22, 2026 Page 7
Finance & Management Committee
June 9, 2026
Kapor Center Non-
profit/CBO
Kapor Center is an operating foundation at the
intersection of technology and racial justice, providing research and thought leadership, operating programs,
supporting strategic partnerships and investments to
increase diversity across the tech ecosystem--from K-
12 education through entrepreneurship and venture
capital - aiming to level the playing field in tech.
RECESS FUN, INC. Non-
profit/CBO
RECESS FUN, INC. is a non-profit organization
founded to provide educational and enrichment
services to underserved youth and access to equitable
family resources. Our vision is for every youth to
achieve a sense of confidence, creativity, and
emotional well-being. Program activities include
tutoring, homework help, art, STEM, coding, day trips,
and family resources.
St Mary's Center Non-
profit/CBO
St. Mary's Center is a community of hope, healing and
justice dedicated to improving the well-being of
Seniors and Preschool Families in West Oakland by
meeting basic needs for food, housing, and social
connection. St. Mary’s Center offers comprehensive
social and community services in five locations along
the San Pablo Avenue corridor in West Oakland.
While we are firmly anchored in the San Pablo Avenue
corridor, the community at St. Mary's Center has
informed county, city, national, and international
advocacy for policies and system change. Our DNA is
infused with the spirit of service and advocacy. We
build on a strong foundation of direct service provision with participant-led advocacy that amplifies the voices of people directly impacted by hunger, homelessness,
and inequity, to create a more just and caring society.
St. Mary’s Center launched the WeConnect
technology education program for Seniors in 2020 to
counter the social isolation and health challenges
posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program has
served 140 Seniors in West Oakland and is deepening
its focus on Seniors with complex health issues.
Tech Exchange
(fiscally sponsored
by Oakland Public
Education Fund)
Non-
profit/CBO
Established in Oakland in 1995, Tech Exchange’s
mission is to ensure that all families have a computer, internet access, and the technology skills necessary to improve and enhance their lives. We are dedicated to
building a community of digitally proficient Bay Area
residents who have full access to engage online in
education, employment, health, financial, and civic
services. Tech Exchange envisions a digitally
connected Bay Area where everyone has the
technology resources they need to thrive.
Yakpasua Zazaboi Non-
profit/CBO
Oakland-based Black Owned Technology Solutions
Provider.
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: OaklandConnect Fiber Network Partnership Legislation Date: May 22, 2026 Page 8
Finance & Management Committee
June 9, 2026
Communications
Workers of America
- Local 9415
Other The Communications Workers of America (CWA)
Local 9415 provides the following comments in
response to the City of Oakland’s Request for
Information (RFI) for Broadband & Digital Literacy
Program Partners. CWA represents approximately 430
Oakland workers, including 120 technicians and
customer service representatives working for
telecommunications providers in the City.
Oakland Unified
School District
Other OUSD’s student repair internship program is focused on providing students and families with culturally
responsive tech support. Student interns fix devices
and provide consultation on issues families are facing
getting online.