Last Mile Federal Funding Account Grant Program Stakeholders,
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a new round of last mile broadband project grant awards on August 22, 2024, and issued the sixth round of recommended awards for public comment on August 23.
These recommended and final awards are part of the $2 billion last mile Federal Funding Account Grant Program. The program expands broadband internet access for underserved and unserved communities across California. This announcement continues a rolling process of awards and recommendations, highlighting the State’s commitment to bridging the digital divide through Broadband For All.
The proposed grant awards recommend up to $174 million for 15 last mile Federal Funding Account broadband infrastructure projects in the counties of Del Norte, El Dorado, Humboldt, Santa Clara, and Siskiyou and benefit an estimated 28,992 Californians in these counties. The recommendations include grants to three Tribal entities in Del Norte and Humboldt counties— the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation, Karuk Tribe, and Yurok Telecommunications Corporation. Find more details in Draft Resolution T-17845 and Draft Resolution T-17846.
Additionally, the CPUC approved awards on August 22, 2024, of $237 million for 21 last mile broadband infrastructure grant projects in 11 counties including grants to three Tribes— Fort Bidwell Indian Community in Modoc County, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in Santa Barbara County, and Colorado River Indian Tribes in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Find more details in Resolutions T-17833 and T-17835.
With this release, the CPUC has issued —
- The total amount currently awarded and recommended is now $608 million for 60 projects in 27 counties benefitting approximately 517,985 Californians.
- Approved awards of $343 million for 35 projects in 17 counties benefitting approximately 457,026 Californians to date. Twenty-one awards are to public entity applicants, three are to Tribal applicants, and 23 benefit primarily disadvantaged or low-income communities. (See Resolutions T-17826, T-17829, T-17833, T-17835, and ministerial approvals.)
- Recommended awards of $265 million for 25 projects in 10 counties benefitting approximately 60,959 Californians. Twelve of the recommended awards are to public entity applicants, four are Tribal applicants, and 13 benefit primarily disadvantaged or low-income communities. These recommended awards are currently open for public comments. They may be voted on by the CPUC at its upcoming public voting meetings on September 12 and September 26, 2024. (See Draft Resolutions T-17839, T-17845, T-17846.)
Draft Resolutions with award recommendations will be released for public comment approximately every two to three weeks through the rest of the year. These recommendations will be considered and must be approved by vote of the CPUC’s Commissioners at a public voting meeting.
Please visit the Federal Funding Account Recommendations and Awards webpage for information on how to file public comments, and for news and updates on past, present, and future awards.
Thank you for your continued commitment to closing the digital divide in California.
Federal Funding Account Team
California Public Utilities Commission
FederalFundingAccount@cpuc.ca.gov
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