News
A seventh round of grants for California’s last-mile broadband program has been approved by the California Public Utilities Commission.
By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
Nine broadband projects in three California counties, including San Luis Obispo County, have gained grant funding from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
The funding, announced last week by the CPUC, brings the total amount of funds awarded to over $804 million for projects across 33 counties in California, the CPUC’s Oct. 17 release stated.
The latest round of grant funding will impact projects in Madera, Napa, and San Luis Obispo counties, according to the CPUC’s website.
Projects funded by the grants will bring high-speed internet to over 30,000 unserved and underserved locations, CPUC Commissioner Darcie L. Houck stated in comments included with CPUC’s announcement.
Surfnet Communications, which was the recipient of five grant awards for projects in rural San Luis Obispo County, will be undertaking projects in locations like Whitley Gardens, Shandon, Old Oak Park, and Corbett Canyon, a summary of grant funding made public by the CPUC revealed.
Also awarded money was Astound Broadband, to the tune of more than $6.7 million, for a project in Paso Robles that will benefit nearly 2,500 people, the summary stated.
Kenneth Nye, the chief operating officer for Surfnet, offered comments with the CPUC’s announcement detailing the importance of the grant funding.
“The fiber network we’re building there will help level the playing field for the residents in remote communities by enhancing education, healthcare, and economic potential for communities along California’s Central Coast,” Nye said.
Comcast was also the recipient of funds, specifically the Madera County Federal Funding Account.
“This expansion will support our ongoing network expansion efforts in the Central Valley, in cities such as Biola, Planada, Caruthers, Le Grand, and Gustine,” said David Tashjian, a Comcast regional SVP.
The projects are part of the $2 billion Last Mile Federal Funding Account grant program, which was established under Senate Bill 156 in 2021.
“Since the initial round of applications closed in September 2023, the CPUC has received and reviewed 484 grant applications from every county in the state, totaling more than $4.6 billion in requests,” the CPUC’s release stated. “This overwhelming response highlights the urgent need for and the opportunity to expand internet access across California.”
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