Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that appropriates $25 million for the broadband public housing account to provide grants to finance projects.

Highlights:

• Establishes that the availability of high-speed internet access referred to generically as “broadband” is essential 21st century infrastructure for economic competitiveness and quality of life (Sec. 1).

• Establishes the California State Broadband Action Plan: Broadband for All, with the understanding that broadband access, adoption, and training are essential components of digital equity (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies the plan focuses on achieving all of the following long-term goals (Sec. 1):

• All Californians have high-performance broadband available at home, schools, libraries, and businesses;

• All Californians have access to affordable broadband and the devices necessary to access the internet; and

• All Californians can access training and support to enable digital inclusion.

• Authorizes the commission to develop, implement, and administer the California Advanced Services Fund program to encourage 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. 2).

• Specifies the goal of the program is, no later than December 31, 2022, to approve funding for infrastructure projects that will provide broadband access to no less than 98 percent of California households in each consortia region, as identified by the commission on or before January 1, 2017 (Sec. 2). 

• Requires the commission to do both of the following (Sec. 2):

• Approve projects that provide last-mile broadband access to households that are unserved by an existing facility-based broadband provider; and

• Give preference to projects in areas where internet connectivity is available only through dial-up service that are not served by any form of wireline or wireless facility-based broadband service or areas with no internet connectivity.

• Requires the commission to establish the following accounts within the fund (Sec. 2):

• The Broadband Infrastructure Grant Account;

• The Rural and Urban Regional Broadband Consortia Grant Account;

• The Broadband Public Housing Account; and

• The Broadband Adoption Account.

Full Bill Text