Receive update on Broadband activities and provide direction to staff on priorities. (No general fund impact) (Gerney) (Est Time: 10 min)

BACKGROUND
In 2015, the Board of Supervisors adopted the Yolo Broadband Strategic Plan. The development of this plan was a collaborative effort between the County and the four incorporated cities led by LAFCo.  Detailed in the strategic plan were many recommended actions for each of the jurisdictions, as well as the identification of unserved/underserved communities. Since the initial plan development, many of the recommended actions outlined in the plan have been put into practice and several of the unserved/underserved areas have seen considerable improvements in their broadband infrastructure. However, there is much more to be done in closing the digital divide. Lack of funding from the state and federal levels severely hampered the counties' ability to fully address the needs of our residents. An unprecedented, possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is before us as a result of the broadband equity issues that were exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. In response to this problem,  the State of California, through the use of the Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, has made a significant commitment to close the digital divide. 

STATE EFFORTS
In August 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom signed executive order N-73-20. This order put many mandates into action:
     - Established a broadband speed goal of 100 megabits per second download speed to guide infrastructure investments
     - Development of a new State Broadband Action Plan by the California Broadband Council, due by December 31, 2020 
     - California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to lead data aggregation and mapping efforts to help identify priority areas 
     - Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to identify funding opportunities 
     - Called for many state departments to work collaboratively to identify available assets and coordinate on the deployment of Broadband infrastructure.

In July 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB156 to advance the statewide broadband plan. The legislation included:
     - $3.25 billion to build, operate, and maintain an open access, state-owned middle mile network 
     - $2 billion to be used for last-mile broadband connections
     - $750 million loan-loss reserve fund to assist agencies in securing financing for broadband infrastructure 
     - $50 million technical assistance fund to assist agencies with broadband readiness

In October 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB4 and AB14 which guarantee future funding for the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF), and extended the CASF funding through 2032.
     -Up to $150 million per year

In June 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom announced California will receive $1.86 billion in funding from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.
     -State currently working through BEAD ruling
     -Applications expected to open mid-2024

COUNTY EFFORTS
In August 2021, the County executed an MOU with Golden State Finance Authority to apply for EDA grant monies to fund a consultant to update the County's Broadband Strategic Plan. The grant was submitted on September 3, 2021, and approved by EDA on August 23, 2022. GSFA developed a draft RFP to select consultants to complete the plans and released the RFP on November 30, 2022. The contract was awarded to Tilson Technologies in February 2023. Tilson has recently delivered the updated strategic plan in draft form, requesting feedback. A finalized plan along with a presentation to the Board of Supervisors is estimated to be delivered in January 2024.

In June 2022, the County submitted an application to the CPUC for $100,000 to facilitate ACP outreach in the community. The CPUC approved the grant in October 2022. The grant includes the following activities:
    - Contract with Yolo 2-1-1 to provide ACP registration services
    - Printed materials for public consumption
    - Partner with local agencies to increase ACP awareness and information

In August 2022, the County submitted an application to the CPUC for $500,000 in Local Agency Technical Assistance funds. These funds are used to engage network design professionals in conjunction with Golden State Connect Authority in the development of broadband network designs for unserved/underserved communities throughout the County. The project is broken down into the following 3 phases:
     -Phase 1: Conceptual Network Design and Cost Estimation
     -Phase 2: Refined High-Level Designs and Foundational Planning
     -Phase 3: Low-Level Design and Engineering
Phase 1 and Phase 2 have been completed.

The Innovation and Technology Services department has been meeting with Broadband Service Providers in an attempt to understand their interests, communicate our areas of need, and encourage applications to the CPUC Federal Funding Account. Thus far Golden State Connect Authority and AT&T have submitted applications to the CPUC to build broadband networks in Yolo County.

Innovation & Technology Services, County Administrator's Office, Committee on Capital Investments