Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative Update

Second Quarter Middle-Mile Advisory Committee Meeting on Friday, April 21

For updates on the progress the State is making on the Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative, please join us at the next Middle-Mile Advisory Council meeting on Friday, April 21, 2023 at 10:00 – 11:30 am PT.

Last Mile Broadband Programs

Federal Funding Account Public Map

A new Federal Funding Account (FFA) Public Map is planned to go live on March 30, and it incorporates stakeholder feedback by 1) removing ‘priority area’ designations, 2) improving data to better reflect unserved locations, and 3) adding socio-economic indicators. The FFA provides $2 billion in grants for last mile broadband infrastructure projects to connect unserved and underserved Californians. Find out more about the map and what’s coming up next with the FFA here.

California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Program Updates

The deadline for applications to the CASF Broadband Infrastructure Grant Account for 2023 has been extended to May 1, 2023. Check out the new Broadband Availability Map and find out how to apply here.

CASF Annual Workshop: On April 10, 2023, the CPUC will hold its annual public workshop to facilitate collaboration among regional consortia, stakeholders, local governments, existing facility-based broadband providers, and consumers regarding cost-effective strategies to reach the broadband access goals. Find out more here.

Local Agency Technical Assistance

Local Agency Technical Assistance (LATA) grants support Tribes and local agencies in their efforts to expand broadband service to unserved and underserved Californians. A $50 million grant program including a $5 million set-aside for Tribes began accepting applications in August 2022 and has awarded $40.45 million with pending requests of $9.5 million.

Public Comment on Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) OIR

Don’t forget to provide comments on the CPUC’s Order Instituting Rulemaking (OIR) for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which will expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs. You can submit comments here by April 10.

Broadband Adoption and Affordable Connectivity Program Update

Over 2 million California Households Now Enrolled in ACP

The California Broadband Council, and state and local entities continue their commitment to increase affordability and adoption of home internet service by promoting low-cost internet plans and enrollment in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) that helps low-income households pay for internet service and connected devices like a laptop or tablet.

As a result of these efforts, there are now 2,008,725 California households enrolled in the ACP as of March 27, 2023. 

Join a Get Connected! California ACP Mobilization Event on April 22

Please join the effort to assist eligible California residents to enroll in ACP. The Get Connected! California ACP Mobilization will host the next round of statewide enrollment assistance events on Saturday, April 22.

If you or your organization are interested in supporting these enrollment events, please respond using this form.

FCC Awards Nearly $6 Million in ACP Outreach Grants to California Entities

In a recent public notice, the Federal Communications Commission announced that it has awarded almost $6 million in grants to state and local organizations to expand ACP outreach and enrollment assistance efforts. Entities and award amounts are in the table below.  

Entity	Award
California Department of Technology	$750,000
California Emerging Technology Fund	$490,000
City of Bell Gardens	$300,000
County of Los Angeles	$700,000
Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles	$700,000
County of San Diego	$500,000
County of Sonoma	$300,000
Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County	$200,000
Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura	$87,000
Korean American Federation of Los Angeles	$250,000
Mexican American Opportunity Foundation	$420,000
Women Organized to Respond to Life-threatening Diseases	$200,000
United Ways of California	$345,000
Southern California Association of Governments	$500,000
San Francisco Consumer Action	$200,000
Total	$5,942,000

ACP Tools and Resources

The California Department of Technology, the California Emerging Technology Fund, EveryoneOn, and California State University at Chico have developed the following tools to support individuals applying for these programs, organizations assisting with enrollment, outreach, and track ACP enrollment: 

• Search for affordable service programs by zip code ​
• Learn more about the Affordable Connectivity Program ​
• Track Affordable Connectivity Program enrollment

State Equity and BEAD Planning Process Updates

Second Round of Digital Equity Outcome Area Working Groups Complete

In the last month, more than 600 state agencies, local and tribal leaders and staff, schools, libraries, nonprofits, labor groups, philanthropic organizations, internet service providers, and residents participated in the second round of Digital Equity Outcome Area Working Group meetings. Six working groups have been established to focus on education, health, digital literacy and inclusion, workforce and economic development, access to essential services, and civic engagement, and tribal collaboration.

The working groups are making significant progress identifying digital equity barriers for the state’s covered populations, understanding how digital inequities lead to disparities in their policy outcome areas, and sharing successful strategies being deployed across the state to overcome them. 

If you missed these, video recordings and slide presentations for each of the working group meetings can be found on the past events page of the Broadband for All portal.

Statewide Digital Equity Planning Group

Please join us at the next Statewide Digital Equity Statewide Planning Group meeting on Wednesday, April 26 from 12-2 pm. The State’s Digital Equity Planning team will brief members of the planning group and the public on our progress to date, share community input we have received thus far, and provide details on next steps.

Broadband for All, Digital Equity, and BEAD Planning Regional-Local Workshops

The California Department of Technology, the California Public Utilities Commission, and other state agencies and departments are partnering with regional and local organizations to host Regional Broadband for All, Digital Equity, and BEAD Planning Workshops throughout the state in the next several months.

Your participation in these workshops is critical to provide input and feedback on the development of the State’s Digital Equity and BEAD Five-Year Action which will inform how future federal dollars may be allocated to achieve Broadband for All in your region and community.

To register for an in-person workshop in your region, please go to the links below:

Date	Location
April 14	Merced College (Merced, CA)
April 15	Fresno City College (Fresno, CA)
April 21	San Diego Central Library (San Diego, CA)
April 27	Chico Masonic Family Center (Chico, CA)
April 28	Santa Rosa Veterans Building (Santa Rosa, CA)
May 3	Jefferson Community Center (Eureka, CA)
May 11	Sacramento Central Library (Sacramento, CA)
May 12	Grass Valley Veterans Memorial Building (Grass Valley, CA)

*As the details for additional regional workshops are finalized, they will be added to the Broadband for All Portal and shared out in next month’s email update.

Take the DEEM Survey to Help your Community Get Online

The Digital Equity Ecosystem Mapping (DEEM) survey and the DEEM ISP (specifically for internet service providers in California) are now live. Now is your chance to make your voice heard and to share the work your organization is doing to close the digital divide with the state of California.

Share how your work helps empower community members access reliable broadband internet, devices and digital skills training. Put your organization on the map today by participating in DEEM or DEEM ISP if you are an internet service provider.

NTIA Issues Request for Comment for Digital Equity Act Programs

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has issued a request for comment for the upcoming State Digital Equity Capacity Grant and the Digital Equity Competitive Programs. 

The NTIA Digital Equity team is hosting a webinar to provide an overview of how interested parties can submit input on the design and implementation of the State Capacity and Competitive Grant Programs at an upcoming Internet For All webinar for the Digital Equity Act on March 29, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00pm.

USDA Community Connect Broadband Grant Funding Opportunity

USDA is accepting applications for grants under the Community Connect program to build community-oriented, high-speed internet networks for people in rural areas. Recipients may use the funds to establish high-speed internet networks that will foster economic growth and deliver enhanced educational, health care and public safety benefits.

All application must be submitted electronically by 11:59 a.m. Eastern Time on June 20, 2023, to https://www.rd.usda.gov/community-connect. 

Upcoming Meetings