California awards $21M in last-mile broadband funding

"Four grants approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) from its Last Mile Federal Funding Account (FFA) will provide as much as $21 million in broadband funding to Contra Costa, Inyo, and Monterey counties. The four grants will bring service to rural, suburban, and underserved communities. They will be executed by the California Broadband Alliance, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, and Stimulus Technologies. The California broadband funding will expand high-speed broadband access to 1,752 locations."

"The FFA was established through California Senate Bill 156. To date, it has approved $1.23 billion in grants for 122 broadband projects in 58 counties. The press release says that two million people have benefited. Forty-seven entities in California have received broadband funding from the FFA for 7,500 miles of proposed fiber construction. The average project size is 37 square miles and has $10 million in grant funding."

CPUC approved four Last Mile Federal Funding Account grants providing up to $21 million to expand broadband in Contra Costa, Inyo, and Monterey counties. Projects will be implemented by California Broadband Alliance, Contra Costa Transportation Authority, and Stimulus Technologies. Funding will extend high-speed access to 1,752 locations and affect about 64,000 households, small businesses, and community institutions. Grants include workforce opportunities and affordability commitments such as low-cost plans and participation in California Lifeline or successor programs. The FFA, created by Senate Bill 156, has approved $1.23 billion for 122 projects across 58 counties, proposing 7,500 miles of fiber and serving two million people.

Read at Telecompetitor