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COUNTYWIDE BROADBAND STRATEGIC PLAN - Principal Consultant Shelley Westall, Tilson Technology
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Requested Action(s)
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a) INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION - Regarding the Countywide Broadband Strategic Plan
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Financial Impact:
There is no financial impact related to this presentation.
Background Information:
With the unanimous passage of SB 156 by the California Legislature and formal signing of the Bill by the Governor in July 2021, not only was an historic $6 billion in funding dedicated to broadband infrastructure across California set in motion, but for the first time in Statute, counties are allowed to own, operate, and maintain broadband infrastructure. Counties are now permitted to play a bigger role in a directing and developing this critical piece of community infrastructure. To aid Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) member counties in their new role as active participants in the conversations and future direction of broadband infrastructure development in their communities, the RCRC Board of Directors provided direction to staff to seek funding for the development of county broadband strategic plans. The intended benefit of the broadband strategic plan was to serve as a compendium of information about broadband systems - existing and future, broadband policies and programs, Smart Community applications, and other key areas, thus serving as a resource to RCRC member counties in this new role.
In September 2021, RCRC affiliate Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA) submitted a grant proposal to the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) for the purpose of requesting grant funding to complete countywide broadband strategic plans for those member counties that opted-in to the grant opportunity. Tehama County voted to participate in this opportunity and via execution of a Memorandum of Understanding between Tehama County and Golden State Finance Authority, was included in the grant.
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