News
San Diego County is seeking comment before allocating millions for broadband that will reach some of the county’s unincorporated areas.
By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
Internet service providers (ISPs) will have until June to offer comments regarding a draft funding notice that will lead to the allocation of $9 million for broadband infrastructure in San Diego County.
The draft funding availability notice follows a March vote by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors that approved the use of $9 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for expanding high-speed broadband and affordability programs.
Now, before the county formally solicits bids, stakeholders will have until June 10 to offer comments in response to the board’s Draft Notice of Funding Availability.
According to the county’s website, proposals from ISPs that subsidize internet costs for customers that utilized the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) will be among those considered.
“It is important to recognize that the amount of ARPA funding available is not enough to get broadband access to every single one of the 37,000 households who need it,” the county’s website stated. “Which is why the county is seeking input to maximizing the reach of every dollar for the unincorporated communities most in need.”
The public comment period, which began May 15, is detailed as a continuation of the county’s public broadband engagement efforts, which helped craft the county’s Comprehensive Broadband Plan. The plan, released in January 2023, was developed with Guidehouse Inc., a company that offers digital services and technology services to the public sector.
According to the data compiled by Guidehouse, over a fifth of households in San Diego County’s unincorporated areas – 22 percent – lack access to high-speed internet.
In total, over 500,000 people live in San Deigo County’s unincorporated areas, which stretch across 2.2 million of the county’s roughly 2.9 million acres, according to the Comprehensive Broadband Plan.
The plan, which was spearheaded by the San Diego County Land Use and Environmental Group, noted that the county has land use jurisdiction in over a third of all unincorporated territories in San Diego County, representing more than 772,000 acres.
Several upcoming meetings are included in the county’s solicitation for comments on the current Notice of Funding Availability, including meetings in Borrego Springs, Spring Valley, and Campo, Rancho Santa Fe, Julian, and El Cajon.
“Your feedback will help the county in developing a funding opportunity that maximizes the reach of every dollar for the unincorporated communities most in need,” the county’s website read.
Beyond the public comment for the current ARPA funding on the table, the county’s website reported that officials will also be looking ahead to future funding opportunities.
The county’s webpage advertised that county leaders are looking to build partnerships with public and private entities “for construction projects that provide internet that is reasonably priced, universally accessible, that offers enhanced speed, and network capacity in the unincorporated areas.”
Stakeholders can offer comments to the county about the Notice of Funding Availability remotely by emailing Land Use and Environment Group Program Manager Stephanie Johnson until the deadline next month.
