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Broadband for All Update

First California Broadband Council Meeting of 2025

The next CBC meeting will take place on Friday, January 24, 2025, at CoveredCA and on Zoom. Presenters will provide updates on the Broadband for All Action Plan implementation, Middle-Mile and Last Mile programs, Statewide Broadband Adoption 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

CDT Finalizes Agreement with California Broadband Cooperative for Digital 395 

CDT is excited to announce the formal closing of the Asset Purchase Agreement (APA) with California Broadband Cooperative (CBC) for over 420 miles of existing network infrastructure. This direct purchase means that the State is now in ownership of this already-existing infrastructure including fiber, conduit, and nearly a dozen network hubs. The network routes run along State Route 395 from the Nevada border, through Inyo, San Bernardino, and Barstow Counties, and passes through several tribal lands. This marks a significant milestone for the MMBI, and another step towards building out a statewide open-access middle-mile network to bring high-speed broadband service to the unserved and underserved rural and tribal communities and bridge the digital divide in California.

This segment will continue to provide middle-mile service to currently served communities and anchor institutions. Once the MMBI segment is installed, CDT will be ready to provide service to additional communities and last-mile providers. 

Second Joint State/Federal Workshop with Tribes

The MMBI team participated in the second Joint Federal-State Workshop and Tribal Consultations, sponsored by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and hosted by the Rincon Tribe on Thursday, November 14. The workshop was an opportunity for the BIA, CPUC, and other State entities as well as utility companies to meet with Tribes to discuss processes and challenges with permitting and Right-of-Way (ROW) for utility infrastructure on Tribal land. CDT’s MMBI team presented several of its partnerships with California Tribes as well as the MMBI Tribal Policy, which establishes a baseline offer to tribes along or near the Middle-Mile Broadband Network (MMBN). To date, CDT has presented this policy to over 34 tribes.

Past recordings, transcripts, and slides are available on the Meetings tab of the MMBI website.

Installation Updates 

The installation of the network continues across the State. In the past month, an additional ~600 miles have started installation. Over 2,600 miles of the MMBI network are now in installation through Caltrans and CDT’s joint build and IRU/lease partnerships. Here is the breakdown of updates for November 2024; 

IRU/Lease Partnership Highlights 

Lumen IRU Project: Installation from one of our IRU/lease network partners, Lumen, covers over 700 miles across nine segments. In addition to the ~400 miles of existing network purchased from CBC for Digital 395, installation started this month on a ~188-mile segment in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura County.

Last Mile Program Update

Federal Funding Account Updates

$1 Billion for Last Mile Broadband in California: Nearly 2 million Californians in 47 counties will benefit from CPUC Federal Funding Account grants and proposed grants. These investments benefit disadvantaged and low-income communities across the state as part of the $2 billion Last Mile Federal Funding Account grant program, highlighting the state’s commitment to bridging the digital divide through Broadband for All. For a full list of awards and recommendations to date, visit the CPUC’s Federal Funding Account Recommendations and Awards webpage and dashboard. The CPUC is announcing awards and proposed awards for last mile broadband projects approximately every three weeks into next year.

Loan Loss Reserve Fund 

The Loan Loss Reserve program awarded $50 million to the Golden State Connect Authority for publicly supported broadband infrastructure projects across the state in Resolution T-17858 at the CPUC’s November 7 voting meeting. Visit the Loan Loss Reserve Fund webpage for additional information and to subscribe to announcements. 

California Advanced Services Fund Updates 

On November 15, the CPUC published Draft Resolution T-17862, which recommends funding of up to $965,828 for four public housing broadband infrastructure projects. Comments are due December 5th and reply comments are due December 10th.   

Line Extension Program applications may be submitted at any time. The next round of Public Housing, Adoption, and Tribal Technical Assistance broadband grant applications should be submitted on or before January 1, 2025. Find out more about the CASF program here.

Broadband Adoption Update

Reminder: FCC Announcements Post Affordable Connectivity Program 

Due to a lack of additional funding from Congress, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has ended. The FCC encourages households to look into Lifeline, which is another FCC program dedicated to making phone and internet service more affordable for low-income households. Lifeline Program can help lower the monthly cost of phone and/or internet service and includes the following benefits:

• A service discount of up to $9.25/month, or
• A service discount of up to $34.25/month if you live on qualifying Tribal lands Learn more about the Lifeline program.

While the Lifeline program will not fully replace the ACP benefit and has different requirements under the law, it may be able to help alleviate the pressure ACP households will face after the end of the program.

Low-Cost Offer Finder

To find affordable broadband service and computing devices, CDT has partnered with EveryoneOn to help California residents find affordable service programs in their area by zip code.

The low-cost offer finder tool, provides access to low-cost internet services, computer equipment, and digital skills training. 

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.

Digital Equity and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Updates

Mark Your Calendars for the December 16 Digital Equity Stakeholder Briefing  

In continuation of our Stakeholder Engagement series, CDT will host an SDEP Implementation & DECG Program Design Stakeholder Briefing on Monday, December 16 to share updates on the State Digital Equity Plan implementation, the status of the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant, and particularly how public comments received on the Digital Equity Subgrant program draft guidelines helped refine the final guidelines.

Register here.

To view past Stakeholder Briefings, find the meeting recordings and materials here.

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program Updates

Starting in December 2024 and extending into 2025, the CPUC will conduct webinars and office hours to assist potential applicants through the subgrantee selection process. Find upcoming BEAD event information and recordings from past events here.

Learn more about the BEAD program here and subscribe to receive email updates and information about future webinars.

Reminder: NTIA Has Opened Application Period for Native Entities (NE) Planning and Capacity Grant Program

The goal of the NTIA’s State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program for Native Entities, also known as Native Entity Capacity & Planning Grant Program, is to fund initiatives that help Native communities to fully access and take advantage of the digital world. These investments can empower NE communities through aiding economic development, preserving traditional practices, and facilitating inter/intra-government coordination. NTIA expects to begin issuing awards in Summer 2025 on a rolling basis.

The next Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program for Native Entities Applicant Webinar will take place on December 11 at 12:00 pm PT. It will focus on application requirements for noting additional funding and other certifications. For more information and registration link, click here.   

The grant application window for this program is from September 25, 2024, to February 7, 2025. For additional information and how to apply, please see here.

Upcoming Events

Date	Time	Event	Locations and Links
Monday, December 16, 2024	2:00 – 3:30 p.m.	SDEP Implementation & DECG Program Design Stakeholder Briefing (Virtual)	Zoom
Friday, January 17, 2025	10:00 – 11:30 a.m.	Middle-Mile Advisory Council Meeting (Hybrid)	Sacramento County Administration Center 700 H St., 1st Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814 Zoom
Friday, January 24, 2025	9:30 – 11:30 a.m.	California Broadband Council Meeting (Hybrid)	CoveredCA 1601 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815 Zoom

Job Opportunities

California Department of Technology 

CDT is hiring across many teams to support Broadband for All. Apply using the links below.  

Keep an eye on CDT Broadband job postings and CPUC job postings. Visit CalCareers  for more information and to apply for open positions.