California

Documents | Grant Sources | Legislative and Regulatory | Organizations and Partnerships

Documents

Broadband Map: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/Telco/Information+for+providing+service/Broadband+Availability+Maps.htm

CBI Broadband Report: http://www.cio.ca.gov/broadband/taskforcereport/

Broadband for All Report: http://law.scu.edu/bbic/File/MBCCFinalReport.pdf

Funding

California Advanced Services Fund (CASF): The Fund provides $100 million in grants to “telephone corporations” to promote broadband services in unserved areas of California. Monies for the Fund are collected via a 0.25% all-end-user-surcharge on telecommunications customers’ bills. http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/Telco/Information+for+providing+service/CASF/index.htm

California Teleconnect Fund (CTF):The CTF supports the provision of infrastructure for digital divide projects via a 50% discount on monthly recurring charges for high-speed telecommunications services incurred by schools, libraries, hospitals and health clinics that are owned and operated by a municipal or county government, a hospital district, or a community based organization. http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/puc/telco/public+programs/CTF/

Community Connect Program: The Rural Development division of the USDA announced more than $10.3 million will be distributed among high-speed Internet providers. Interested providers must apply for the //Community Connect// grant program.

Public Utilities Commission Grant Program: http://www.tellusventure.com/consortia/planning/

Legislative and Regulatory

California generally allows public entities to provide communications services. Community Service Districts, however, have authority to provide communications services only as long as no private person is willing to do so. If such a private person emerges, the CSD must then sell or lease its system to that person at “fair market value” – which, in the context of a forced sale, could well be below cost. Few funding sources are likely to be willing to fund projects burdened by such conditions. (Calif. Government Code § 61100(af)). For more information see http://www.baller.com/comm_broadband.html.

Organizations and Partnerships

California Broadband Initiative: This group was created by the Governor in 2006. It is composed of public and private stakeholders with the expertise to advise policymakers on a framework for making California a global leader in the telecommunications revolution. http://www.cio.ca.gov/broadband/taskforce/aboutus.asp

California Broadband Cooperative: Funded by the Recovery Act, this middle mile project will build a new 583-mile fiber network that will mainly follow the U.S. Highway 395, a major transportation corridor between Southern and Northern California, which passes through Nevada. http://www.digital395.com/index.html

California Broadband Policy Network: previously known as the California Community Technology Policy Group, is a statewide alliance of diverse community-based organizations that advocate for policies to improve access to broadband media and create digital opportunities for underserved people. http://www.californiabroadband.org/

California Broadband Council: Established by legislation in 2010 (S.B. 1462 – Padilla) to marshal the state’s resources to further the policy of increasing broadband network deployment, and eliminating the Digital Divide by expanding broadband accessibility, literacy, adoption, and usage. http://broadbandcouncil.ca.gov/home.aspx

California Emerging Technology Fund: Part of the Broadband Awareness and Adoption Project, this NTIA supported project proposes to increase adoption of broadband in vulnerable and low-income communities in Los Angeles, the Central Valley, Orange County, San Diego, and the Inland Empire. CETF has identified key populations with low broadband adoption rates and developed partnerships with organizations uniquely qualified to reach out to each of these populations. http://www.cetfund.org/

California Broadband Task Force (CBTF): The CBTF force is composed of public and private stakeholders with the expertise to advise policymakers on a framework for California’s broadband policy. The task force issued a final report in January 2008, which offered a comprehensive assessment of the state of broadband in California. It includes detailed maps of wireline and wireless availability, analysis of adoption, a pricing survey, and recommendations to increase broadband access and adoption. http://www.calink.ca.gov/pdf/CBTF_FINAL_Report.pdf

Broadband Institute of Santa Clara Law School: Established to help bridge the gap between the public and the state and federal policies governing their access to advanced network technologies. http://law.scu.edu/bbic/index.cfm

Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California: A collaborative organization that designs, implements, and operates CalREN, the California Research and Education Network, a high-bandwidth, high-capacity Internet network specially designed to meet the unique requirements of these communities, and to which the vast majority of the state's K-20 educational institutions are connected. http://www.cenic.org/

California Public Utilities Commission: regulates privately owned electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, railroad, rail transit, and passenger transportation companies. The CPUC serves the public interest by protecting consumers and ensuring the provision of safe, reliable utility service and infrastructure at reasonable rates, with a commitment to environmental enhancement and a healthy California economy. http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/puc/

California Telehealth Network (CTN): Created in 2007 through a three-year $22 million grant from the FCC’s Rural Health Care Support Mechanism, CTN will allow the University of California and its partners to begin to establish a statewide broadband telehealth network aimed at improving the rural health care infrastructure throughout California. http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/16856