California\u2019s efforts to expand high-speed Internet access to all residents faced deep financial cuts from the federal government earlier this year, but officials say they\u2019re finding a way forward in spite of the financial setbacks.<\/p>\n
During a Broadband for All update Friday morning, officials briefed stakeholders on the current funding environment and some of the challenges facing efforts to build out high-speed connections across the state.<\/p>\n
California Department of Technology (CDT) Deputy Director of Broadband and Digital Literacy Scott Adams told attendees that the May 9 elimination of the Digital Equity Act program grants was a \u201cdisappointing\u201d blow to this work.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe state\u2019s Broadband for All initiative predated those and is actually quite strong,\u201d he said, adding that there have been tremendous investments made since the inception of the program.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s important to note that all 50 states were affected by the cuts to the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program and the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, not just California.<\/p>\n
Despite these grant funds evaporating, Adams said there are still opportunities to leverage existing resources and partnerships, and to build new ones within the ecosystem. That includes not only organizations working in the nonprofit sector, but those in the private sector as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is still a lot going on,\u201d Adams said, adding that the overarching goals of the Broadband for All program have not changed.<\/p>\n
One of the opportunity areas highlighted by CDT\u2019s Digital Inclusion Manager Aracely Hernandez was the availability of grants through the California Public Utilities Commission. Those funding streams include the California Advanced Services Fund Broadband Adoption Account, the Broadband Public Housing Account and the Tribal Technical Assistance.<\/p>\n
Hernandez also noted the creation of a new Broadband for All portal<\/a>, which contains resources and information for the initiative’s broad range of stakeholders.<\/p>\n \n Eyragon is the Managing Editor for Industry Insider \u2014 California. He previously served as the Daily News Editor for Government Technology. He lives in Sacramento, Calif.\n <\/p>\n