Broadband for All Monthly Update
In this edition
- State Digital Equity and BEAD Planning Process Update
- CALL TO ACTION – Take and Distribute the Digital Equity Survey and Digital Equity Ecosystem Mapping Tool
- Upcoming Digital Equity Meetings
- Broadband Adoption and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Update
- Last Mile Program Update
- USDA Community Connect Broadband Grant Funding Opportunity
- Got a Minute?
Broadband for All Update
May 2023
California Department of Technology’s (CDT) Broadband Update provides the latest information about the implementation of the State’s Broadband Action Plan, Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative (MMBI), and other digital equity and inclusion activities, collectively known as Broadband for All.
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State Digital Equity and BEAD Planning Process Update
Broadband for All, Digital Equity, and BEAD Planning Workshops
The California Department of Technology, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and other state agencies and departments have partnered with regional and local organizations to host 15 of 20 Regional Broadband for All, Digital Equity, and BEAD Planning Workshops throughout the state. Thus far, workshops have been held in Merced, Fresno, San Diego, Chico, Santa Rosa, Eureka, San Jose, Sacramento, Grass Valley, San Bernardino, City of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Ana, Tuolumne City, and Santa Maria.
Here are short video highlights of the Merced and Fresno planning workshops created by the San Joaquin Valley Regional Broadband Consortia. Below are a few photos from the earlier workshops. Find more curated photos of all recent events here.
There is still time to participate in a remaining workshop near you. Your involvement in these workshops is provides critical input and feedback on the development of the State’s Digital Equity and BEAD Five-Year Action Plan which will inform how future federal dollars are allocated to achieve Broadband for All in your region and community.
To register for an in-person workshop in your region, please click on the links below:
**Find materials from past events [here]
| Date | Time | Region (Location) |
| June 1 | 11am-4:30pm | Pacific Coast (Veterans’ Memorial Community Center, Santa Maria, CA) |
| June 2 | 9am-2:30pm | Central Coast (CSU Monterey Bay – Student Center, Seaside, CA) |
| June 8 | 12pm-4:30pm | Bay Area (Oakstop – Broadway Event Hall, Oakland, CA) |
CALL TO ACTION – Take and Distribute the Digital Equity Survey and Digital Equity Ecosystem Mapping Tool
We need your help in two critical ways:
COMPLETE AND DISTRIBUTE THE DIGITAL EQUITY SURVEY
The Digital Equity Survey is intended to identify the digital equity barriers and needs of California’s residents. The survey can be taken online or via mobile phone. It is accessible in 14 different languages and includes audio functionality for limited English proficiency and limited literacy residents. Please complete the survey and use our outreach toolkit to promote to your clients, customers, and constituents.
Digital Equity Survey Outreach Toolkit for Partners
Since launch on May 18, over 1,000 California residents have completed the Digital Equity Survey in eleven different languages. Please take a few moments to complete it and share it with your family, friends, neighbors, and other distribution channels in your network.
COMPLETE AND DISTRIBUTE THE DIGITAL EQUITY ECOSYSTEM MAPPING (DEEM) TOOL
We are asking partners to map their digital equity work and help us develop an inventory of organizations, programs, funding and other resources that are, or can be, leveraged to promote digital equity and support implementation of the Digital Equity Plan. Please take a moment to fill it out for your organization and encourage others in your network or community to do so as well.
Upcoming Digital Equity Meetings
Engage in the digital equity planning process virtually at the Statewide Digital Planning Group meeting and the six Outcome Area Working Group meetings. Event details, including dates and registration information, are updated and posted here as they are available. Outcome Area Working Group meeting dates are also listed below. Save these dates and we will see you soon!
| Outcome Area Working Group | June 2023 |
| Education | Tuesday, June 16 3 – 4:30pm |
| Health | Thursday, June 15 10 – 11:30am |
| Digital Literacy and Inclusion | Wednesday, June 14 11–12:30pm |
| Workforce and Economic Development | Wednesday, June 14 2pm – 3:30pm |
| Essential Services, Accessibility, and Civic Engagement | Thursday, June 15 1pm – 2:30pm |
Broadband Adoption and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Update
More California Households Continue to Enroll in ACP
The California Broadband Council, 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). This helps low-income households pay for internet service and connected devices like a laptop or tablet.
As a result of these efforts, there are 2,141,387 California households enrolled in the ACP as of May 29, 2023.
ACP Tools and Resources
The California Department of Technology, the California Emerging Technology Fund, EveryoneOn, and California State University Chico have developed the following tools to support individuals applying for the ACP, and organizations assisting with outreach, enrollment, and tracking ACP enrollment progress:
Last Mile Program Update
Federal Funding Account and Applicant Tool
During the week of June 5, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will take a critical step toward accepting applications for the Federal Funding Account (FFA) with its release of the FFA Applicant Tool, as well as releasing a revision of the program’s webpage to allow applicants to gather resources more efficiently for their applications. The FFA Applicant Tool enables potential applicants to create project areas and provides important informational geographic, economic, and business case data necessary to develop their applications for the Federal Funding Account. In addition, prospective applicants may examine service needs, highlight census blocks, and see estimated subsidies for potential projects. Monitor the Last-Mile Federal Funding Account main page for the update next week.
The CPUC established the Federal Funding Account in 2022 with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, in accordance with Senate Bill 156. The fund will provide $2 billion in grants for last-mile broadband infrastructure projects to connect unserved and underserved Californians with high-speed broadband services. The CPUC will begin accepting applications in late June/early July and will the application window will remain open for three months.
USDA Community Connect Broadband Grant Funding Opportunity
USDA is still 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 applications must be submitted electronically by 11:59 a.m. Eastern Time on June 20, 2023, to https://www.rd.usda.gov/community-connect.
Got a Minute?
On behalf of the Government Operations Agency, we are pleased to share a new “GotAMinute” video celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
