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Fast, affordable Internet access for all.
SB 156
Content tagged with "SB 156 "
California Announces Another $207 Million In Last Mile Broadband Grants
California’s $2 billion Last Mile Federal Funding Account Grant Program (FFA) has announced another $207 million in new broadband grants across Amador, Los Angeles, and Solano Counties.
The FFA program, part of a broader $6 billion California “Broadband For All” initiative, is aimed at boosting broadband competition and driving down costs statewide.
According to the state’s announcement, $61 million in new grants were awarded by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for five Last Mile FFA broadband infrastructure grant projects in Amador and Solano Counties, bringing affordable fiber Internet access to approximately 10,000 Californians.
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The CPUC award details indicate that the grants will be awarded to the Golden State Connect Authority (GSCA) and the City of Vallejo to help bring fiber access to 2,278 unserved locations in Amador and Solano counties.
The City of Vallejo will leverage $3.8 million in state grants to complete four different projects laying predominantly underground fiber, with the city retaining ownership of the finished network and Smart Fiber Networks providing last mile consumer-facing service.
Inside CADE's Mission to Closing California's Digital Divide - Episode 611 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast
In this episode of the podcast, Chris engages in a discussion with Lindsey Skolnik, Project Manager for the California Alliance for Digital Equity (CADE). They delve into the critical efforts of CADE to close the digital divide in California, highlighting legislative and regulatory priorities aimed at achieving digital equity.
Lindsey shares the origins and mission of CADE, formed in May 2022 to advocate for digital equity at the state level. They discuss key initiatives such as the Middle Mile and Last Mile projects, Senate Bill 156, and the strategic allocation of $6 billion towards broadband infrastructure.
The conversation also covers the groundbreaking digital discrimination legislation making its way through the California legislature, focusing on the disparate impact standard and the importance of addressing outcomes over intent. Lindsey explains the significant progress of Assembly Bill 239 and the collaborative efforts with various partners to combat digital discrimination.
Furthermore, they explore the impact of the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, its budget challenges, and the latest updates on the project's progress. The discussion also touches on the Federal Funding Account's role in supporting new broadband investments, with insights into the application process and awarded projects.
Join us as we unpack the complexities and triumphs of advancing digital equity in California, aiming to create a future where all communities have access to fast, affordable, and reliable Internet.
This show is 35 minutes long and can be played on this page or via Apple Podcasts or the tool of your choice using this feed.
Transcript below.
We want your feedback and suggestions for the show-please e-mail us or leave a comment below.
Listen to other episodes or view all episodes in our index. See other podcasts from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
Thanks to Arne Huseby for the music. The song is Warm Duck Shuffle and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license
California’s Broadband Plan Has Huge Potential, But Red Flags Abound
In 2021, California passed Senate Bill 156, an ambitious plan allocating $6 billion to shore up affordable broadband access throughout the state.
Among the most notable of the bill’s proposals was a plan to spend $3.25 billion on an open-access statewide broadband middle-mile network backers say could transform competition in the state.
An additional $2 billion has also been earmarked for last mile deployment. Both components will be heavily funded by Coronavirus relief funds and federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) subsidies as well as California State Government grants – with all projects to be finished by December 2026 as per federal funding rules.
But while California’s proposal has incredible potential, activists and digital equity advocates remain concerned that the historic opportunity could be squandered due to poor broadband mapping, a notable lack of transparency, and the kind of political dysfunction that has long plagued the Golden State.
Massive Scale, Big Money, Endless Moving Parts
Still, California’s prioritization of open access fiber networks could prove transformative.
Data routinely indicates that open access fiber networks lower market entry costs, boost overall competition, and result in better, cheaper, faster Internet access. Unsurprisingly, such networks are often opposed by entrenched regional monopolies that have grown fat and comfortable on the back of muted competition.