Council proclaims Digital Inclusion Week; Smart Columbus outlines device, training and device-donation goals

Columbus City Council adopted Resolution 0222X-2025 on Oct. 6, 2025, recognizing the week as Digital Inclusion Week and receiving a presentation from Smart Columbus partners about city-backed efforts to close the digital divide.

Councilmember Bankston presented the resolution and invited representatives from Smart Columbus and the Connect Us Coalition to accept it. Haley Lisonbee, introduced on the record as director of operations for Smart Columbus, described a multi-year program that aims to pair digital skills training with devices and to expand device access through a donation and refurbishment program.

Lisonbee said the city-backed initiative will “equip 10,000 residents with large screen devices and 10 hours of digital skills training” by 2027. She reported that Smart Columbus has trained more than 1,600 residents so far across 16 partner organizations and 50 community locations. The program also launched a device-donation drive that aims to obtain 2,500 retired devices annually for refurbishment and redistribution, and a public-facing enrollment portal at connectcentralohio.com.

Councilmember Bankston emphasized the local equity frame, citing county-level connectivity data presented to council: roughly 20 percent of Franklin County households lack a cable-modem, DSL or fiber Internet account; 10 percent rely on cellular-only access; and lower-income households are disproportionately disconnected. Bankston said the council supports community-driven solutions and moved adoption of the proclamation; the council adopted the resolution by roll call.

Smart Columbus partners and the council said neighborhood marketing—billboards and yard signs in Linden and the South Side—will be used to drive enrollment in the digital-skills hub and device distribution efforts. Lisonbee and presenters thanked the city for support and noted the Connect Us Coalition includes more than 60 partners from nonprofits, the library system and local government.

The resolution is a ceremonial recognition and does not itself appropriate new funds; presenters described current and planned programs funded through existing city investments and partner resources. Councilmembers did not place a follow-up assignment on record beyond moving the resolution for adoption.