California is grappling with the decision of where to make cuts to the 10,000-mile middle-mile broadband network project, originally estimated to cost $4 billion. The project, which has been in the works for two years, is facing financial difficulties, resulting in a reduction of $1.5 billion from the initial budget, bringing the total project allocation to $3.8 billion, reported Government Technology.
According to Mark Monroe, deputy director of California’s Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative, “We’re moving from the design and planning work that we’ve done to actually being in construction across the state. So now, we at [the California Department of Technology] CDT will have to go through the process of deciding, well, given the funding that we currently have, how will we best proceed?”
Monroe acknowledged the uncertainty of the project’s future, stating, “The specific portions of the project that will be affected by the cuts are yet to be determined. It’s likely that we won’t be able to cover all 10,000 miles without additional funding,” he speculated.
Government Technology reported that the middle-mile plan largely follows highways since the state has access to the rights-of-way. The CDT is involved in permitting and design work and has rolled out 160 miles of construction in 2024. Project construction is expected to last until December 2026, per Monroe.
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