By Brian Donoghue

Salinas, CA

In July 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed landmark broadband legislation into law to help provide reliable and affordable Internet access to all Californians. California has long been proactive in establishing and expanding digital connectivity, and this development is no exception. 

California’s innovative infrastructure law (SB 156) consists of four critical programs: the Last Mile Grant Program, the Loan Loss Reserve Fund, the State Middle Mile Open Access Network, and technical assistance by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Combined, all four were designed to empower local communities to solve their own connectivity challenges. 

The state utilized extensive cost model data to establish the fund with $3.25 billion needed to construct thousands of miles of fiber optic middle mile infrastructure statewide and $3.5 billion divided between unserved rural and urban areas for last mile grants. $750 million in long-term financing was allotted to the Loan Loss Reserve Fund. 

On February 17th, Next Century Cities joined local government, non-profit, educational allies, and others to express support for California’s broadband infrastructure fund. Our letter requests that every project that is ready to begin construction this year be funded to launch. It also describes how reducing the total of the overall infrastructure fund would have a negative effect on the program. 

The letter acknowledges the difficult decisions facing legislators in navigating a budget deficit but emphasizes that the economic development opportunities and addressing systemic inequality with the state’s historic broadband infrastructure program warrant unique consideration. Ensuring every project ready for construction receives sufficient funding year over year will avoid undermining the overall statewide effort to close California’s digital divide.