County & Local Efforts to Address Challenge

State Efforts

Funds

The State of California and its Public Utility Commission (CPUC) have implemented a few key strategies to help promote broadband. The first is the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF). Every ratepayer across the state pays a fee on their monthly phone bill that funds this program (see the CASF item on your bill). The fund was created by the governor's Broadband Task Force in 2006 and has been renewed and updated to continue offering financial incentives for providers to build and upgrade Internet access in unserved and underserved areas of California.

Mergers

Second, the CPUC created the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF), a non-profit corporation established pursuant to requirements stemming from the mergers of SBC-AT&T and Verizon-MCI. The merged companies contributed a total of $60 million over five years to advance broadband. CETF works on projects that are funded from their own fund, the CASF, or a combination of the two with most requiring an applicant match.

Council Creation

Third, the State created the California Broadband Council to coordinate efforts, resources, and assets to help promote broadband deployment. Various resources and news items can be found on their website.

Board of Supervisors Recent Actions

Resolution authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Golden State Connect Authority and the County of Nevada regarding the construction, improvement, operation, and maintenance of broadband internet access service in the unincorporated areas of the county.

Resolution 22-1088 approving a contract amendment to the Last Mile Broadband Grant Agreement between the County of Nevada and Nevada County Fiber bringing the cost per home in line with the current financial climate.

Resolution 22-457 authorizing a grant application to the Local Agency Technical Assistance Grant Program, for funding in the amount of $500,000 for the expansion of broadband availability to unserved neighborhoods in Nevada County

Resolution 22-456 approving and amendment to the contract between County of Nevada and Ascent Environmental, Inc. to develop a Broadband Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (EIR) extending the term of the contract from August 30, 2022 to June 30, 2023 to allow additional time to complete the EIR.

Resolution 22-385 approving an amendment to the Last-Mile Broadband Grant Agreement between the County of Nevada and Nevada County Fiber, Inc. to provide underground fiber optic internet to an under-served community in the Banner Mountain area, extending the termination date to October 31, 2022 to allow for final project wrap-up and invoicing.

Resolution 22-013 establishing the policy of the County of Nevada to facilitate and promote the development, access, and equitable usage of broadband infrastructure throughout all Nevada County to provide residents with critical services, economic opportunities, and higher standard of quality of life, and to encourage and facilitate upgrades to existing broadband infrastructure that ensure public and private sectors have access to sufficient broadband speeds to support consumer demand for new and evolving uses over time.