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California ranked fifth, named 'overachiever' in TechNet’s nationwide broadband report

TechNet—a national, bipartisan network of CEOs promoting the growth of tech industries and the economy by advocating a targeted policy agenda—released its 2012 State Broadband Index report on Dec. 5, ranking California fifth in broadband progress amongst the 50 states.

"Here’s the best news: The report cites evidence that states actively investing in and using broadband networks are seeing stronger economic growth, better connected communities and enhanced quality of life. That’s everything the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) is working for in California," said CETF President and CEO Sunne Wright McPeak.

In the report, the California Public Utilities Commission was commended for creating CETF, which has undertaken a number of initiatives to reach its goals of 98 percent broadband deployment in California and 80 percent adoption—up from the state’s 73 percent home broadband adoption rate in 2010.

"The report makes clear that progress on broadband adoption and deployment requires bold public leadership and public-private cooperation, like the kind we have in California," added McPeak.

Washington, Massachusetts, Delaware and Maryland were listed as top four states above California. States were rated on indicators of broadband adoption, network quality and economic structure.

California was highlighted as an "overachiever" because of its ability to build upon its broadband progress through "smart initiatives undertaken by public and private sectors."

Specifically, the report recognizes California for enacting many of the 2008 recommendations made by the California Broadband Task Force, established in 2006 by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The task force report, called "The State of Connectivity: Building Innovation Through Broadband," represented one of the earliest efforts by any state to benchmark broadband, according to TechNet’s report.

These positive actions include the creation of the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) to fund broadband network construction in un-served and underserved areas—spearheaded by Sen. Alex Padilla—as well as Padilla’s SB 1437 establishing the California Virtual Campus and allowing community colleges to qualify for the Teleconnect Fund, and Sen. Elaine Alquist’s SB 1191 authorizing community service districts to offer broadband services when they are not available from private sector providers.

"We applaud all the states at the top of this index for their leadership in building the broadband infrastructure that is helping deliver economic success and improved quality of life for millions of our fellow citizens," said Rey Ramsey, President and CEO of TechNet, in the release.

To read the report in full, visit www.technet.org/research. For more information on CETF, go to www.cetfund.org