Under legislation sent to the governor this week, California would have four more years to award as much as $25 million in grants and financing for broadband infrastructure and adoption projects in multifamily apartments and other unserved, publicly supported housing developments.
The $25 million is scheduled to revert back to the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) at the end of 2016, but legislation (SB 745) from State Sen. Ben Hueso would extend that date to 2020.
The California Public Utilities Commission administers CASF, which has the overarching goal of reaching broadband deployment for at least 98 percent of Californians.
"The CPUC has awarded approximately 100 projects from the Public Housing Account. However, they are currently reviewing nearly 300 project proposals. By extending the date by four years, these projects and others can be assessed and awarded with the funding, should their applications meet the program’s criteria," says an analysis from the Office of Senate Floor Analyses.
Hueso serves as vice chair of the California Broadband Council, which was formed via legislation to address the digital divide.
"Extending the date by when funds from the Public Housing Account are reverted to the other accounts provides residents of eligible public housing developments the opportunity to benefit from the state’s efforts to address the digital divide," Hueso said in the bill author's statement.
SB 745 also would expand data reporting requirements for the CASF program. Amendments to the bill passed this week in the Assembly (54-to-26 vote) and Senate (28-to-10).
