Broadband for All Monthly Update
Broadband for All Update
September 2024
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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Community Spotlight
The Michelson 20MM Foundation Announces Three 2024 Digital Equity Spark Grantees
Kudos to the Michelson 20MM Foundation for naming three 2024 Digital Equity Spark Grantees: City Heights Community Development Corporation (City Heights CDC), Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), and Destination Crenshaw.
Given the size of our state and its digital equity needs, federal and state grants will need to augment by philanthropic and private sector funding. These projects funded by Spark Grants serve as inspiring examples of how public-private partnerships support the efforts to make Broadband for All a reality in California.
Read more about the 2024 Digital Equity Spark Grantees here.
Please submit story ideas related to your work to close the digital divide and foster digital equity for consideration in future Broadband for All email updates to digitalequity@state.ca.gov.
It has been a busy month for Broadband for All leaders as they met with partners and stakeholders throughout California. CDT Deputy Directors Mark Monroe and Scott Adams participated in virtual and in-person events to provide updates on their projects at the North State Planning Collaborative and Bay Area Digital Equity summits.
Additionally, the Office of Broadband and Digital Literacy’s Broadband Access and Deployment Advisor, Maria Kelly, also attended a meeting with Digital Equity Partners within the Pacific Coast Broadband Consortia region in Santa Maria. These events are critical opportunities to deepen mutual understanding, alignment and collaboration between state and regional/local efforts to close the digital divide.
Broadband for All Update
The fourth 2024 California Broadband Council (CBC) meeting will be on October 22. CDT will announce the new meeting location in October. Members of the public may also view the meeting online via Zoom.
The theme for the final meeting of the year will be “Broadband for All: Year in Review” and will focus on updates from state agencies on Broadband for All Action Plan implementation, Middle-Mile and Last-Mile programs, Statewide Broadband Adoption and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) mobilization efforts, and the State Digital Equity Plan (SDEP), and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) programs.
Find past meeting recordings, presentations, and minutes here.
Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative Update
California forges ahead on nation’s largest open-access, Middle-Mile Broadband Network
State and local officials, Legislative staff, and Congressional staff joined California Chief Information Officer and CDT Director Liana Bailey-Crimmins and representatives from the MMBI team for two groundbreaking events in August.
Groundbreaking in Willits: On August 23, Arcadian Infracom, one of MMBI’s network partners, and CDT hosted a groundbreaking in Willits to kick off installation efforts on a 280-mile joint-build project running along Highway 101. This segment will eventually provide a middle-mile backbone for unserved areas between Eureka in Humboldt County at the northern end and Marin and Contra Costa Counties at the southern end.
Groundbreaking in Sacramento: On August 29, CDT and Arcadian Infracom held a groundbreaking in Sacramento on a 256-mile route of broadband fiber spanning from San Jose through Sacramento and Placerville, and to Truckee and Kings Beach in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This segment is just one of five totaling more than 1,000 miles being jointly built with Arcadian Infracom.
Read the full press release by the Governor’s Office here.
Tribal Partnerships – Chumash Tribe Adopts Tribal Resolution
The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians (Chumash) Tribe has adopted a Tribal Resolution authorizing access to Tribal Land Right of Way (ROW) for an approximately 3-mile segment of the Middle-Mile Broadband Network. This segment runs along California State Route 246 and provides a great opportunity to partner with the Chumash Tribe and enable the tribe to accelerate last-mile connectivity.
Middle-Mile Broadband Network Installation Updates
The installation of the network continues to progress across the state with approximately 1,666 miles actively in construction.
Caltrans Construction Highlights: In Los Angeles County, installation started on an approximate 12-mile segment along State Route 405 and Hwy 101 in August 2024.
Lease Partnership Highlights: Installation from one of our leased network partners, Central Valley Independent Network (CVIN), covers over 2,500 miles across 88 different segments in California. Of the 88 segments, CVIN has started the following four installations this month:
- Approx. 17-mile segment from State Route 183 to Hwy 101 in Monterey County
- Approx. 35-mile segment along Lacey Ave. and State Route 198, which spans Kings County to Fresno County
- Approx. 66-mile segment along State Route 180, State Route 63, and South Hills Valley Road, which spans Fresno County to Tulare County
- Approx. 55-mile segment along State Route 99 and Road 144, which spans Kern County to Tulare County
Last Mile Program Update
Federal Funding Account Updates
The CPUC awarded $237 million for 21 projects in 11 counties at its August 22 public meeting. The CPUC is announcing awards and proposed awards for last-mile broadband projects as part of the $2 billion Last Mile Federal Funding Account Grant Program. The program expands high-speed internet access for unserved communities throughout California, highlighting the state’s commitment to bridging the digital divide through Broadband for All.
Last-mile broadband infrastructure award recommendations and decisions will continue to be released for public comment about every two to three weeks through the end of 2024. Information on awards and proposed awards is available on the CPUC’s Federal Funding Account Recommendations and Awards webpage.
Sign up for Federal Funding Account program updates here, and for the “CASF Distribution List” here to receive notices about proposed grant awards.
California Advanced Services Fund Updates
Broadband Public Housing Grants
The California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Broadband Public Housing Account provides grants to enable free broadband for low-income residents of eligible housing communities. The CPUC continues to review 36 Broadband Public Housing grant applications from the July 2024 application cycle. On September 12, the CPUC may vote on Draft Resolution T-17836, which recommends funding up to $279,415 for two public housing infrastructure projects in San Jose and Corte Madera. The next round of applications should be submitted on or before January 1, 2025. Find out more about the program here.
Broadband Adoption Grants
The CASF Broadband Adoption Account provides grants to eligible applicants to increase publicly available or after-school broadband access and digital inclusion, such as grants for digital literacy training programs and public education to communities with limited broadband adoption. The CPUC is continuing to review 68 Broadband Adoption grant applications from the July 2024 application cycle. The next round of applications should be submitted on or before January 1, 2025. Find out more about the program here.
Tribal Technical Assistance Grants
The Tribal Technical Assistance Grant Program provides grants to California Tribes for eligible pre-construction work that enables broadband internet connectivity. Tribes may receive up to $250,000 each fiscal year to fund activities, including market studies, feasibility studies, and business plans. Applications are accepted four times a year by the 1st of January, April, July, and October. The next round of applications should be submitted on or before October 1, 2024. Find out more about the program here.
Broadband Adoption Update
Reminder: FCC Consumer Protections and Informal Complaint Process post-ACP
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continues to support consumers with inquiries and complaints about ACP after the program winddown on billing and service issues. The FCC may submit your complaint to the Internet Service Provider and the provider will have 30 days to respond to consumer complaints. This information informs the FCC on issues that matter to consumers and contributes to federal and consumer protection efforts on a national level.
Below are some helpful links:
Low-Cost Offer Finder
Home internet service and computing devices are critical for all individuals to reap the social and economic benefits of the digital world. The cost of both remains a barrier for many people. CDT provides the low-cost offer finder tool, in partnership with Everyone On, as a public service to California residents to promote broadband affordability. California residents may find programs in their areas by entering their zip code to find low-cost internet services, computer equipment, and digital skills training.
Digital Equity and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Updates
SDEP and Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program Stakeholder Briefing Recap
On August 26, CDT held a stakeholder briefing to discuss insights from the Capacity Grant Program Device Questionnaire and present the Capacity Sub-Grant Program Design draft framework. Federal Program Officer Gladys Palpallatoc from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) shared information and addressed questions regarding the NTIA Digital Equity Competitive Grant. Thank you to all who participated in this conversation. If you missed the briefing, you can find the meeting materials here.
Join the next stakeholder briefing on September 30 from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm. CDT appreciates the ongoing partnership and collaboration!
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program Updates
The BEAD Program is a $42.45 billion federal program that aims to get all Americans online. California was awarded $1.86 billion in federal BEAD funding to build infrastructure and expand internet access in rural and historically underserved communities. The BEAD program is being implemented in California by the CPUC.
California’s 120-day BEAD Challenge Process is underway, allowing stakeholders to challenge the existing National Broadband Availability Map used to determine BEAD funding eligibility by accurately identifying whether a broadband serviceable location should or should not be designated as served, unserved, or underserved. The 30-day Rebuttal Phase began on August 21 and will run through September 19. While only broadband service providers can submit rebuttals against their challenged services, any permissible challenger can submit a rebuttal against other challenge types, including Planned Service, Existing Service, and Enforceable Commitment challenges.
To participate in the Challenge Process, please register for a Challenge Portal account. For technical assistance with the Portal, please contact cahelpdesk@ready.net. Learn more about the BEAD Challenge Process here, find webinars and events here, and visit the BEAD webpage to subscribe to email updates.
NTIA Announcement
Reminder: The NTIA Digital Equity Competitive Grant program is open for applications
Applications for NTIA’s Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, which will support digital equity and inclusion efforts among those most impacted by the digital divide, are due September 23, 2024. This program will complement digital equity activities funded by the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program.
Visit the NTIA’s website to learn more about eligibility. Interested applicants should review the NOFO and Application Resources section on the NTIA website.
Let’s bring more funds home to California to close the digital divide!
Upcoming Events
**Find materials from past events [here]
| Date | Time | Event |
| Monday, September 30, 2024 | 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. | SDEP & Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program Stakeholder Briefing (Virtual) |
| Friday, October 18, 2024 | 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. | Middle-Mile Advisory Committee Meeting (Hybrid) |
| Tuesday, October 22, 2024 | 9:30 -11:30 a.m. | California Broadband Council Meeting (Hybrid) |
Job Opportunities
Keep an eye on CDT Broadband job postings and CPUC job postings.
Visit CalCareers for more information and to apply for open positions.
