Newsletters

Topics in this Newsletter:

• USDA Grant Awards for Mono and Inyo Counties
• CPUC Federal Funding Account Grant Applications Status
• FCC Broadband Fabric Data Challenge period through May, 2024

 

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USDA Broadband Technical Assistance Grant Awards

On February 21, 2024, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the award of USDA Rural Development Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) grants for Mono and Inyo Counties.  These grants are intended to result in shovel-ready, last-mile, detailed network engineering designs for Hammil in Mono County and for the Furnace Creek area in Inyo County.  The awards were announced as part of an investment of more than $770 million for rural infrastructure projects during USDA’s “Investing in America Tour.” The broad goal of the USDA funding is to bring high-speed internet, clean drinking water, and modern infrastructure to more than one million people in rural communities.

Once the network engineering designs for these projects are complete, we will be better equipped to estimate the funding needed for last-mile infrastructure construction for these areas.  We will then work with providers to seek the most appropriate grant funding for the construction of last-mile infrastructure and to provide broadband Internet service in these communities.

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CPUC Last-Mile Federal Funding Account Grant Applications Status

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Last-Mile Federal Funding Account (FFA) grant applications submitted last fall were expected to be evaluated and awarded this spring.  Since there were several FFA applications that overlapped CPUC Infrastructure Account applications, the CPUC has postponed the deadline for for action on pending Infrastructure Account applications—and ostensibly on the announcement of FFA grant application awards—until June 30, 2024.

FFA grant applications submitted by service providers to fund last-mile infrastructure construction in our region include projects in three areas in Inyo County and in three areas in Mono County.  Project applications in Inyo County include:  Aspendell, Starlite and the Bishop Creek area; Lone Pine and Alabama Hills; and Pearsonville (part of a project application for northern Kern County).  Project applications in Mono County include:  the Town of Mammoth Lakes, Mammoth Mountain and the Mammoth Lakes Basin; locations from Convict Lake to McGee Creek; and June Lake.

You can view the public details of the FFA grant applications at the CPUC Broadband Grant Portal.

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FCC Broadband Fabric Data Challenge period through May, 2024

The FCC recently accepted broadband location and service data from Internet Service Providers as part of the semi-annual Broadband Data Collection (BDC) effort.  The public will be able to look up their location or locations on the FCC Broadband Map and submit challenges to the latest version of the fabric data through May 2024.  It is very important for everyone to verify that their locations are identified correctly on the map, and that the services that are listed as available at those locations are accurate.  If the location or service availability is incorrect, please submit a Location Challenge or Availability Challenge as appropriate on the FCC Broadband Map page.

Topics in this Newsletter:

• CPUC Video Franchising - Share Your Opinion
• Federal BEAD Program Next Steps
• FCC Broadband Fabric Data Challenge period coming in March, 2024
• Get Involved in Regional Broadband!

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CPUC Video Franchising - Share Your Opinion

The California Public Utilities Commission is creating new Video Franchising rules to protect customers who use television and internet services. The Commission is undertaking this work because many Californians rely on businesses such as Optimum, DirecTV, Charter, Comcast, and Cox for their television and internet services.  The Commission issues franchises to more than 20 businesses that offer these services in California.

To hear from customers and stakeholders on any proposed new rules, the Commission released its YouTube video titled, “Your Opinion Will Help Shape the Future of Video Franchising (2024)” to the public on January 30, 2024.  You can watch the YouTube video by clicking on the video link below:

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Federal BEAD Program Next Steps

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is intended to result in “Reliable Broadband Internet Service” for all households.  The goal is broadband Internet service at speeds of at least 100Mbps download and 10Mbps upload.

The NTIA is currently evaluating proposals from all of the States and Territories.  When California’s Initial Proposal is approved, probably this spring, the 1-year clock starts for California to submit its Final Proposal.

During that year, the State will solicit and select grant applications to cover all unserved locations in the State, and those selected grant applications will be included in the State’s Final proposal.  BEAD-funded construction work can begin after the NTIA approves the State’s Final Proposal and the individual applications.

Your participation may be necessary during that year as well.  Should your home’s Internet service speeds be challenged, you may be asked to run speed tests and provide the results to the County for submission to verify that your location is eligible for a BEAD-funded project.  While the specific details of the process are not yet available, the NTIA Speed Test Requirements for the Challenge Process will include the subscriber (you) submitting results from 3 speed tests within 60 days of the start of the challenge.

Stay tuned!

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FCC Broadband Fabric Data Challenge period coming in March, 2024

This is a reminder that the FCC is now accepting broadband location and service data from Internet Service Providers as part of their semi-annual Broadband Data Collection (BDC) effort. After the BDC submission window closes in early March, the public will be able to look up their location or locations on the FCC Broadband Map and submit challenges to the fabric data. It will be very important for everyone to verify that their locations are identified correctly on the map, and that the services listed as available at those locations are accurate. If the location or service availability is incorrect, please submit a Location Challenge or Availability Challenge as appropriate on the FCC Broadband Map page.

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Get Involved in Regional Broadband - Provide your input

The IMBC website has a Get Involved page dedicated to gathering public input.  The Get Involved page has a survey for you to let us know if you’re truly receiving the Internet service speeds that you’re paying for and another survey to get your thoughts on which areas you feel need to be prioritized for broadband deployment.  That page also includes links to other pages on the IMBC website, including the Speed Tests page and the Reporting Issues page.

• Speed Tests – test regularly.
• Confirm your Internet Service Speeds.
• Tell us which areas you feel need broadband service expansion.
• Submit Challenges on the FCC Broadband Map if your Internet service isn’t accurately represented.  This is the current source of data that California uses for grant applications.

 

Topics in this Newsletter:

• Digital Equity Plan Draft – Public Comment through January 25, 2024
• FCC Broadband Fabric Data Challenge period coming in March, 2024

 

Digital Equity Plan Draft – Public Comment through January 25, 2024  The State of California is taking a vitally important step toward closing the digital divide by releasing its draft California Digital Equity Plan aimed at ensuring every Californian has equitable access to reap the social and economic benefits of the digital world. The public is invited to add input to the plan by commenting before January 25, 2024. The draft Digital Equity Plan, part of the Federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, was developed with input from across the State, including from Inyo and Mono counties. Representatives from agencies, organizations and companies in our region participated remotely a Digital Equity Plan workshop in May 2023, and the State also incorporated survey responses submitted by residents. From the California Department of Technology:  “Your perspective is extremely valuable in helping to refine the Plan and ensure it meets the needs of all Californians. To assist the development of this Plan further, submit a public comment: visit the State Digital Equity Plan page to access the draft, then select the public comment form and follow the instructions to share your feedback." Please take a few minutes to look through the plan and provide comments, express support, or provide additional information for consideration.

FCC Broadband Fabric Data Challenge period coming in March, 2024 The FCC is now accepting broadband location and service data from Internet Service Providers as part of their semi-annual Broadband Data Collection (BDC) effort. After the BDC submission window closes in early March, the public will be able to look up their location or locations on the FCC Broadband Map and submit challenges to the fabric data. It will be very important for everyone to verify that their locations are identified correctly on the map, and that the services listed as available at those locations are accurate. If the location or service availability are incorrect, please submit a Location Challenge or Availability Challenge as appropriate on the FCC Broadband Map page.

Get Involved in Regional Broadband - Provide your input The IMBC website has a Get Involved page dedicated to gathering public input.  The Get Involved page has a survey for you to let us know if you’re truly receiving the Internet service speeds that you’re paying for and another survey to get your thoughts on which areas you feel need to be prioritized for broadband deployment.  That page also includes links to other pages on the IMBC website, including the Speed Tests page and the Reporting Issues page. Speed Tests - test regularly Confirm your Internet Service Speeds FCC Broadband Fabric Data Challenge period coming in March, 2024 Tell us which areas you feel need broadband service expansion Submit Challenges on the FCC Broadband Map if your Internet service isn’t accurately represented.  This is important as this is the current source of data that California uses for grant applications.

Topics in this Newsletter: Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Grant Status BEAD Challenge Process and Speed Tests California Federal Funding Account (FFA) Grants Status Get Involved in Regional Broadband!

Status of the State’s BEAD Grant Application  The BEAD program is intended to result in “Reliable Broadband Internet Service” for all households, not just for the neediest households or for those only in specific areas as we’ve seen with so many previous broadband grant programs.  The stated program goal is to provide broadband Internet service for every unserved* and underserved** location at speeds of at least 100Mbps / 20Mbps (download/upload), and to provide service for all Community Anchor Institutions at symmetrical speeds of 1Gbps. The State will submit its Initial (non-draft) Proposal to the NTIA by December 27.  Submitted documents and other information can be found at the State’s Bead Program website. The State will solicit subgrantee applications for construction projects in 2024. One of the more relevant parts of the BEAD grant for our region is the establishment of an Extremely High Cost to Connect threshold.  Locations that are estimated to exceed that cost when planning for fiber-optic infrastructure will be eligible for connectivity using licensed fixed wireless or other reliable methods using BEAD funds.

*Unserved Internet service speeds:  less than 25Mbps download and 3Mbps upload. **Underserved Internet service speeds:  less than 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload.

BEAD Challenge Process and Speed Tests  Part of the overall BEAD application process will require involvement by residents and businesses.  As subgrantees submit BEAD applications to the State to connect unserved and underserved locations, Internet Service Providers who believe that they already provide services to those locations at “served” speeds can submit a challenge.  The challenge process will require speed test data to support claims of served, and in some cases, unserved or underserved locations. The NTIA posted a 2-page overview of the BEAD Speed Test Requirements to help explain the Challenge Process, but the following are key Speed Test requirements: The median result of three speed tests, taken on separate days, is used to identify service levels. Speed tests must not be older than 60 days from the start of the challenge period. Speed tests may be conducted by subscribers, but speed test challenges must be gathered and submitted by an eligible challenger (units of local government, nonprofit organizations, or an internet service provider). You can find links to the NTIA-approved speed tests on the IMBC website.

Status of FFA Applications and next steps  Town of Mammoth Lakes – grant submitted to connect locations identified as unserved, in the challenge process, response to the challenge has been submitted, awaiting CPUC evaluation of the grant application. Mono County – grants submitted to connect locations identified as unserved, in the challenge process, response to the challenge has been submitted, awaiting CPUC evaluation of the grant application. Inyo County (Inyo-1, Inyo-2, Kern-Pearsonville) – submitted to connect locations identified as unserved, in the challenge process, response to the challenge has been submitted, awaiting CPUC evaluation of the grant application.

Get Involved in Regional Broadband - Provide your input The IMBC website has a Get Involved page dedicated to gathering public input.  The Get Involved page has a survey for you to let us know if you’re truly receiving the Internet service speeds that you’re paying for and another survey to get your thoughts on which areas you feel need to be prioritized for broadband deployment.  That page also includes links to other pages on the IMBC website, including the Speed Tests page and the Reporting Issues page. Speed Tests – test regularly Confirm your Internet Service Speeds Tell us which areas you feel need broadband service expansion Submit Challenges on the FCC Broadband Map if your Internet service isn’t accurately represented.  This is important as this is the current source of data that California uses for grant applications.