The Board of Supervisors announced at an April 21 meeting that Tehama County (CA) would experience both a broadband and fiber optic expansion, reported the Daily News. Unserved and underserved areas of Bend will receive improved broadband while the fiber will be built along State Route 36E.
According to Supervisor Bob Williams, Chico State broadband is seeking grants from the California Advanced Services Fund for the project. Supervisor Dennis Garton added that Charter Cable plans to expand service before the end of the year to improve broadband in Bend, both at schools and for the public, according to the Daily News.
The progress has been slow going, though, and Williams noted his frustration with the “time-consuming project,” especially since the COVID-19 pandemic requires children to participate in distance learning. A separate AT&T tower project in Rancho Tehama has moved along much faster, fast-tracked due to a school shooting in 2017, where five people were killed. “We were able to get the tower within a year,” Williams said.
Williams noted that he hopes there will be more progress in getting broadband where it’s needed most. “There’s a lot of movement in the legislature currently dealing with broadband and connectivity,” he added.
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