Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes local educational agencies to report their pupils' needs for at-home learning to the Department of Education.

Highlights:

• Requires all state agencies and departments with pertinent authority and resources to assist and facilitate timely deployment of broadband infrastructure throughout California must be engaged and coordinated by the administration and California Broadband Council to coordinate actions to achieve the goals (Sec. 1-2).

• Requires the commission to develop, implement, and administer the California Advanced Services Fund program to encourage the deployment of high-quality advanced communications services to all Californians that will promote economic growth, job creation, and the substantial social benefits of advanced information and communications technologies (Sec. 4.a).

• Requires the commission to do all of the following in approving infrastructure projects (Sec. 4-2):

• Approve projects that provide last-mile broadband access to unserved areas;

• Prioritize projects in unserved areas where internet connectivity is available only at speeds at or below 10 mbps downstream and one mbps upstream or areas with no internet connectivity;

• Prioritize projects in high-poverty areas; and

• Prioritize projects that facilitate the achievement of the goal in subparagraph (A).

• Authorizes a grant awarded according to this subdivision to include funding for the following costs (Sec. 4-11):

• Costs directly related to the deployment of infrastructure;

• Costs to lease access to the property or for internet backhaul services for a period not to exceed 5 years; and

• Costs incurred by an existing facility-based broadband provider to upgrade its existing facilities to provide for interconnection.

• Requires each consortium to conduct an annual audit of its expenditures for programs funded according to this subdivision and will submit to the commission an annual report, which will be posted on the commission’s internet website, that includes both of the following (Sec. 4.g-2):

• A description of activities completed during the prior year, how each activity promotes the deployment of broadband services, and the cost associated with each activity; and

• The number of project applications assisted.

• Requires money in the Broadband Public Housing Account to be available for the commission to award grants and loans according to this subdivision to an eligible publicly supported community if that entity otherwise meets eligibility requirements and complies with program requirements established by the commission (Sec. 4-2).

• Authorizes the commission to mandate a performance metrics plan that includes both of the following (Sec. 4-7):

• A detailed description of how outcomes will be measured and tracked for milestone or completion reports. Outcomes include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

• The total number of participants trained or provided access;

• The total number of hours that training or access has been provided to the community and the number of participants served; and

• The number of participants that subsequently subscribe to a broadband internet service provider to use a device in their home; and

• Methods of tracking, such as verification of subscription online through internet service providers, billing, surveys, sign-in sheets, or other methodologies.

Full Bill Text