Broadband News from the
California Public Utilities Commission
Loan Loss Reserve Program’s First Funding Cycle in March 2024
The Loan Loss Reserve Program will accept applications from Tuesday, March 12, 2024, through Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at 4 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. The program helps finance publicly owned broadband infrastructure projects. The Broadband Loan Loss Reserve Fund provides a credit enhancement to assist recipients in obtaining more favorable borrowing rates and terms for infrastructure owned by a public agency, Tribal, or non-profit organization.
More information, the application, webinars, and technical assistance meeting opportunities are available on, and will be added to, the program website here. Prospective Loan Loss Reserve applicants can request a 30-minute consultation with Communications Division staff by email request to broadband.loanloss@cpuc.ca.gov.
Traditional Landline Obligations: Public Forums With AT&T in March 2024

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is considering an application by AT&T to waive its “Carrier of Last Resort” responsibilities in its California service territories. Carrier of last resort responsibilities mean that the utility has to offer voice landline service. Californians may currently choose landlines for many reasons, such as poor cell service, emergency communications, affordability, and accessibility.

The CPUC will continue to hold in-person and virtual public forums for customers of AT&T to provide input into the company’s two proposals to remove its obligation to provide voice services. The format for the public forums is: a brief overview of AT&T’s proposals; opportunity for parties to provide brief remarks; and then public comments. An AT&T representative will be available to answer questions about individual customer bills or service.
Upcoming public forums are scheduled at 2pm and 6pm on Thursday March 14th (In-person only, Indio, CA) and on Tuesday March 19th (virtual only). For details on how to participate, AT&T’s proposals, and Frequently Asked Questions information is available here.
Members of the public can comment on AT&T’s proposals in the comment sections of the CPUC’s online Docket Card for the proceeding at: apps.cpuc.ca.gov/c/A2303002 (Application of AT&T California to Withdraw its Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Designation); and apps.cpuc.ca.gov/c/A2303003 (Application of AT&T California for Relief from its Carrier of Last Resort Obligation). Here is a guide to providing public comments at the CPUC, including by submitting comments via an online form.
Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD)

The BEAD program is the next major tranche of broadband infrastructure funding, with $1.86 billion in federal funding in California. In late December, the CPUC submitted for approval a two-volume Initial Proposal (Volume I and Volume II) for how California will make BEAD funding awards to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

To view BEAD underlying serviceable location data including latitude and longitude, a Tier E license is available free to local governments, Tribes and tribal entities, and non-profit organizations. Learn more at How to Get Location Data for BEAD and on the CPUC's BEAD website. Subscribe here for BEAD program updates. 
Broadband Development Resources
The CPUC’s Broadband Caseworker team compiles resources to assist entities to develop and implement broadband networks. A few of these resources follow including approaches for structuring broadband financials and partnerships as well as California local permitting information:
Source: State of California
Local Permitting Playbook, p. 32
The Broadband Caseworker website contains additional resources. The team can be reached at Broadband.Caseworkers@cpuc.ca.gov with questions and to schedule a thirty minute meeting.
Proposed Expansion of the Tribal Technical Assistance Program

Changes are coming to the Tribal Technical Assistance program. The CPUC has proposed to expand the scope of the program to align with the highly successful Local Agency Technical Assistance program. The proposed modifications include higher award thresholds, more eligible uses, and other updates that incorporate key elements of the LATA program.

The Tribal Technical Assistance program provides grants to assist California Tribes in developing market studies, feasibility studies, and/or business plans to support Tribes in their pursuit of improved communications. The CPUC continues to accept applications for the Tribal Technical Assistance program with quarterly application windows. 

More information on the program can be found on the Tribal Technical Assistance website and the Proposed Decision including Tribal Technical Assistance Application Requirements and Guidelines (Attachment 3) can be viewed here. The earliest the CPUC may vote on the Proposed Decision is March 7, 2024.
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