A stronger digital backbone for Ventura County’s kids
kidSTREAM will be a place where exploration, play and discovery switch on every weekend. Soon, a third grader will launch a paper rocket, a kindergartner will learn simple coding, and a parent will capture a memory to share with family miles away.
Our mission is to help every Ventura County child reach their full potential through playful, skills-building STREAM learning — supported by the reliable internet that will connect our exhibits to a child’s kitchen table and extend learning beyond our walls.
That’s where Verizon’s plan to acquire Frontier comes in, creating an opportunity to expand access and reliability across Ventura County. Teachers send assignments online. Parents apply for jobs and benefits online. Small businesses sell to customers online. When connections fail, the learning stops, the work stalls, the sale never clears.
We have worked with Frontier since our earliest days. Their early support helped us open doors and focus on kids. Now we see a chance to go further. The acquisition can deliver stronger networks, faster speeds and affordable programs that will better serve families, schools and community spaces across Ventura County.
I say this as someone who knows what it feels like to bridge a gap. I was the first in my family to attend college, having grown up in a family that worked in the trades. That background taught me the value of hard work and practical skills.
Still, navigating higher education without traditional role models was challenging. I can’t imagine trying to do it today without reliable internet access. If we want the next generation of doctors, engineers, police officers and educators to succeed, they need the tools to connect, learn and grow.
That’s why Verizon’s investment matters. Verizon has a strong track record of strengthening communities and building digital inclusion. Programs like Verizon Innovative Learning demonstrate their commitment to making sure technology and opportunity reach every student and family, regardless of income or location.
The acquisition will allow more families and small businesses to benefit from Verizon’s customer-first service, affordable programs for low-income households and fiber expansion plans that Frontier could not accomplish alone.
At kidSTREAM, we often say we don’t create programs for the community, we create them with the community. Verizon shares that philosophy. They understand that investing in local partnerships is about more than technology. It’s about providing opportunities for children and families to unlock their full potential.
I see nothing but good things coming from this transaction. It will strengthen the broadband foundation of Ventura County, give families better service and open up opportunities for kids who just need someone to believe in them, the same way someone once believed in me.
Reliable internet is the backbone of our future. With Verizon’s acquisition of Frontier, Ventura County will be better positioned to compete, to learn and to thrive. That’s an investment worth making.
Michael Shanklin is the Executive Director of kidSTREAM Children’s Museum in Camarillo, dedicated to helping every child in Ventura County reach their full potential through hands-on STREAM learning.