The U.S. Department of the Treasury recently approved $540.2 million for California high-speed internet projects to aid the effort to provide access nationwide.
“The pandemic upended life as we knew it and exposed the stark inequity in access to affordable and reliable high-speed internet in communities across the country, including rural, Tribal, and other underrepresented communities,” Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo said. “This funding is a key piece of the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic investments to increase access to high-speed internet for millions of Americans and provide more opportunities to fully participate and compete in the 21st-century economy.”
The allocation is via the American Rescue Plan’s Capital Projects Fund (CPF), representing the largest single infusion of broadband funding to a state under CPF.
California is slated to use the funds to connect approximately 127,000 homes and businesses to affordable, high-speed internet, according to the Treasury Department. One of the CPF program’s priorities is making funding available for broadband infrastructure.
“This major commitment reflects President Biden’s strong belief that universal, affordable high-speed internet in every school, home, small business and community — urban or rural — must today be considered an absolute necessity for educational and economic opportunity,” White House American Rescue Plan Coordinator Gene Sperling said.
California’s Last Mile Broadband Expansion grant program is a new competitive grant program designed to provide internet access to areas of the state currently lacking access to reliable broadband at speeds of 25/3 Mbps.
“At a time when we are increasingly dependent on internet-based tools and services, it is critical that we close our digital divide by ensuring every Californian, in every corner of our state, has access to affordable, high-speed internet service,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said.