By Rev. Jonathan E. D. Moseley, Sr., Western Regional Director, National Action Network
In Los Angeles and across California, the digital divide remains one of the most persistent barriers to opportunity. For many families, students, and small business owners, a strong internet connection can mean the difference between falling behind and moving ahead. That’s why the Western Region of the National Action Network (NAN) welcomes Verizon’s planned acquisition of Frontier’s California network as a meaningful step forward for digital inclusion, economic growth, and community empowerment.
We see this transaction as more than a business development—it’s an opportunity to lift up communities that have waited too long for reliable broadband. Verizon’s plans to build upon Frontier’s network infrastructure can bring high-speed, high-quality internet to areas that have been underserved for years. Across urban neighborhoods and rural regions alike, stronger connectivity will open new pathways to learning, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and civic engagement.
The facts are encouraging. Verizon has committed to invest at least $40 million in digital inclusion programs in California, helping to connect approximately 100,000 households that currently lack affordable internet service. That means children gaining access to online learning tools, seniors connecting with telehealth providers, and jobseekers finding new opportunities. For families who’ve been on the wrong side of the digital divide, that’s life-changing progress.
This transaction also carries strong potential for small businesses—especially those owned by people of color, women, and veterans. Verizon’s supplier and small-business initiatives are designed to ensure that local entrepreneurs are not just customers, but partners in building the next generation of broadband services. Through programs like the Small Business Supplier Accelerator and Small Business Digital Ready, Verizon has already shown its commitment to expanding opportunities for small and minority-owned firms to compete and grow. With greater access to fast, reliable internet, small businesses across Los Angeles will be better equipped to reach customers, manage operations, and take advantage of e-commerce tools that level the playing field.
At NAN, we believe that when technology and opportunity come together, communities flourish. The promise of this transaction lies not only in new fiber lines or faster speeds, but in what those improvements will allow people to achieve. Students will have the digital resources they need to learn. Small businesses will have the connectivity to expand. Families will be able to stay in touch and access vital online services.
We also recognize the importance of accountability and partnership. We look forward to working with Verizon, community organizations, and state regulators to ensure that these commitments are fulfilled—and that the benefits of this transaction reach those who need them most. Together, we can help design programs that promote digital literacy, expand workforce training, and ensure inclusive supplier participation.
What makes this moment exciting is the potential to combine innovation with inclusion—to build not just a stronger network, but a stronger sense of shared purpose. Verizon’s investment in California’s broadband future represents a tangible commitment to the principles NAN has long championed: equity, access, and empowerment for every community.
This is a moment to think big and move forward. As new infrastructure is built and new opportunities emerge, we can close long-standing gaps that have held too many Californians back. The digital divide is not inevitable—it’s a challenge we can overcome when public, private, and community partners work together.
The Western Region Chapter of the National Action Network proudly supports the Verizon–Frontier transaction because we see in it a chance to connect more people to possibility. When every neighborhood is online, every family and business has a chance to thrive. And when that happens, California moves closer to the promise of achieving affordable, reliable Broadband for All.
Rev. Jonathan E. D. Moseley, Sr. is the current Interim-President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Action Network and the Western Regional Director which includes; California, Nevada, Arizona and Oregon.
