The California Department of Technology has issued a periodic update on its middle-mile and last-mile initiatives.
The report says that almost 3,100 miles of Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative (MMBI) have “gone to installation” through the CDT’s joint build, indefeasible right-of-use/lease partnerships, and Caltrans constructions. The total is nearly half of the roughly 8,000 miles that will be deployed
Caltrans says that it is continuing to make progress in moving from pre-construction to installation of almost 800 miles of network. Installation has started on an approximately four-mile segment in Glenn County along State Route 162.
The California last-mile update provided further details about a $48 million award for eight broadband infrastructure projects that was announced on January 30. The awards are part of the multi-year $2 billion last mile Federal Funding Account grant program, which aims to bring or improve broadband services in underserved or unserved areas across the state.
The update also cited the California Public Utility Commission approval of $4,455,792 in the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF). The projects will provide literacy training to 4,140 people and broadband subscriptions to 13,058 people.
The CPUC is assessing four applications: One for the Broadband Adoption Account, one for the Broadband Public Housing Account and two for the Tribal Technical Assistance Grant Program that were made during the January cycle.
Last December, California approved $225 million in grants for last-mile broadband connectivity. The awards were in the tenth round of funding in the Last Mile Federal Funding Account grant program. They will support last mile connectivity in Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Kern, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, San Diego, Shasta, Stanislaus, Tehama, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yuba counties.
About 163,000 residents will benefit from the California last-mile awards, which are part of the Broadband for All initiative.
Additional information about California broadband, including links to state funding resources, BEAD application information, state-specific Telecompetitor coverage and more, can be found on Telecompetitor’s Broadband Nation webpage for the state.
