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Supervisor Hidahl recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a letter to the Budget committees in both the CA State Senate and House in support of the Governor's proposed $7 billion investment to expand broadband infrastructure.
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DISCUSSION/BACKGROUND
As the Governor’s Budget emphasized, universal access to high-speed Internet is critical to the state’s economy, education, and basic health and well-being, and will be a key component of the state’s long-term recovery. The pandemic has underscored the importance of making broadband accessible and affordable for educational, employment, and health purposes. The May Revision reflects the commitment stated in the Governor’s Budget to develop equitable statewide access to high-speed broadband internet service, and proposes a $7 billion investment over three years as part of a plan to: expand broadband infrastructure, increase affordability, and enhance access to broadband for all Californians.
Both access to infrastructure and affordability of broadband service are significant barriers to closing the digital divide and present a significant challenge. Today, approximately 83.4 percent of Californians are using broadband at any speed, but only 52.4 percent of Californians are using broadband at the modern benchmark speed of 100 Mbps. Service at speeds below 100 Mbps is not enough for households who are juggling the demands of distance learning, telework, and accessing health care on-line. These numbers are an indication of lack of access, lack of quality infrastructure, and lack of affordability. Rural communities are hit the hardest with 51.3 percent of rural households without any broadband networks offering service at 100 Mbps. Tribal lands are also disproportionably impacted with 28.4 percent of homes lacking this essential broadband infrastructure. Urban communities are also impacted. Almost half of households without access to service at 100 Mbps are located in urban areas....
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