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Gavin Newsom | Governor

California Readies 3,000 Miles of Network Infrastructure to Achieve Broadband for All

California

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The California Department of Technology secures the optical fiber needed to lay 3,000 miles of broadband infrastructure

675,000 underserved Californians would gain access to high-speed internet across the state with new broadband network

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that California is  one step closer to delivering affordable high-speed internet service to  communities throughout the state, awarding new contracts that will  supply the materials necessary for building 3,000 miles of broadband  infrastructure.

The California Department of Technology, as part of the state’s Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative,  awarded contracts to two vendors totaling nearly $225 million that will  allow the state to purchase enough optical fiber and materials to  construct 3,000 miles of the network.

“Delivering broadband to all is essential to California’s success,”  said Governor Newsom. “Access to high speed internet can mean the  difference between launching a successful career and being without work.  Once constructed, this network will be the largest in the world – and  our action today will make the promise of broadband for all a reality.”

California is strengthening broadband connections to improve access  to education, health services and employment opportunities throughout  the state. The Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative is the first step to  creating an open-access, middle-mile network that will build  infrastructure to bring high-speed broadband service to unserved and  underserved communities, regardless of technology used, on equal  economic and service terms.

The action today is one part of a comprehensive and long-term  approach to tackling the broadband infrastructure deficiencies still  impacting rural and low-income communities, bringing the state closer to  achieving affordable, high-speed broadband internet service for all  communities. Construction on the middle-mile network is expected to be  completed by December 2026.

Middle-mile network refers to the physical infrastructure required to connect global internet with local networks

Middle-mile network refers to high-capacity fiber lines that carry  large amounts of data at higher speeds over longer distances between  local networks. It is the physical infrastructure required to connect  global internet networks with local networks and is an essential  component of the state’s Broadband for All efforts.

Supply chain issues and nationwide broadband projects have created competition to secure necessary materials. The state’s Invitation For Bid (IFB) was a proactive step to ensure supplies will be available at a  pre-negotiated price when they are needed. The state has the ability to  add an indefinite amount of materials as needed to complete construction  over the next four years.

As a result of the competitive process, the state is guaranteed to  have conduit, vaults, optical fiber and construction hardware readily  available for the next four years as construction begins in earnest.

Government Operations Secretary Amy Tong said purchasing the material  for the network is a critical first step to make sure California has  the supplies it needs for construction of the middle-mile network in the  coming years.

“This fiber will be the backbone of the middle-mile network, which  will bring access to unserved and underserved Californians so they can  participate equally in digital society,” Tong said.

Russ Nichols, acting director of the California Department of  Technology and chair of the Middle Mile Advisory Committee, said the  projects will begin soon.

“With this milestone in place, we can continue our planning with  Caltrans to begin installing the fiber as soon as possible,” Nichols  said.

Last year, the Governor signed historic legislation allocating $6 billion for achieving Broadband for All, including $3.25  billion for the middle-mile network and this year’s revised budget  proposes an additional $1.1 billion to support the project as it moves  into construction.

The 2021 legislation included:

  • $3.25 billion to build, operate and maintain an open access, state-owned middle-mile network.
  • $2 billion to set up last-mile broadband connections  that will connect homes and businesses with local networks. The  legislation expedites project deployment and enables Tribes and local  governments to access this funding.
  • $750 million for a loan loss reserve fund to bolster  the ability of local governments and nonprofits to secure financing for  broadband infrastructure.
  • Creation of a broadband czar position at the  California Department of Technology, and a broadband advisory committee  with representatives from across state government and members appointed  by the Legislature.
In 2020,  the state mobilized companies, business leaders and philanthropists  through public-private partnerships to facilitate distance learning at  school districts in need across the state. The effort helped connect  students lacking high-speed internet or an appropriate computing device  at home with donated mobile hotspots, laptops, Chromebooks, tablets and  other devices.

Original source can be found here.

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