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ADMINISTRATION / GOLDEN STATE CONNECT AUTHORITY - Chief Administrator Gabriel Hydrick & Administrative Services Director Dava Kohlman
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Requested Action(s)
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a) INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION - Update on the Local Agency Technical Assistance (LATA) grant program
b) Request approval and authorization for the Chief Administrator to sign the Low Level Design - Hut Location Confirmation and submit to Golden State Connect Authority (GSCA)
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Financial Impact:
The construction-ready, low-level network design is funded by the Local Agency Technical Assistance grant in the amount of $500,000 which is budgeted in Advertising & Community Service/Broadband (1091-55546). An application has been submitted by the GSCA to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for Federal Funding Account/Last Mile funds for project implementation.
Background Information:
On 11/8/22, the Board approved the Memorandum of Understanding between Golden State Connect Authority (GSCA) and the County of Tehama for the implementation of the Local Agency Technical Assistance Grant. Under the terms of the MOU, the GSCA has contracted with a professional network design firm for the development of Tehama County’s network design. The design has progressed in three phases:
1. Conceptual Design
2. High Level Design
3. Low Level Design
The first two phases have been completed and the third and final phase, Low Level Design, is well underway. GSCA has applied for CPUC Federal Funding Account/Last Mile funds and has identified the areas of Gerber/Proberta/Las Flores and the community of Los Molinos as the first priority projects to proceed if awarded these funds. These funds allow for 40 miles of priority project areas.
Considerations for determination of the approximate 40 miles of project area that is advanced to the Low-Level Design phase include: access to state middle mile, number of addresses passed, and number of CPUC unserved addresses. The final work product upon completion of this grant will be low-level, construction-ready network designs for the designated project area(s).
A key piece of the design is the specific physical location of the hut(s) and cabinet(s) which will house all the electronic systems associated with the local network. For Gerber/Proberta/Las Flores, the Public Works yard located at 9380 San Benito Avenue in Gerber was identified as the best on-site option. Staff have conferred with the Public Works Director who agreed to the site location, but offered an alternative placement that would be less intrusive to Public Works’ operations. For Los Molinos, the fire station located at 7930 Sherwood Boulevard in Los Molinos was identified as the best on-site option. Staff have also conferred with the Fire Chief who has agreed to the site location.
Staff is requesting approval to sign and submit the Hut Location Confirmation letter. The letter makes note that there are still pending discussions regarding lease terms for the use of county property and potential franchise fees.