The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t create the digital divide, but it certainly exposed it. As workers were sent home to work remotely, schools shifted to online learning, and healthcare prioritized telehealth options, many people were left behind simply because they lacked a reliable internet connection or skills to utilize such technology. 

FCDI formed in 2021 as a volunteer coalition forged by local non-profit and education leaders, government partners, health workers, and housing agencies unified by one shared goal: digital equity for all Fresno County residents.