State Bill Seeks to Generate $1B-plus in Funds for Broadband Infrastructure

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Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D- Long Beach) announced the introduction of a “Broadband for All,” bill SB-1130, Monday for the new 2020-2021 California legislative session. 

Gonzalez said her measure will generate upwards of $1 billion in funds needed to deploy high quality broadband infrastructure to end the inequities in work, education and healthcare due to lack of internet access. The measure, Gonzalez said, will also empower local governments to build securely with greater state support through bond financing and increase the ability to better leverage federal funds.

The bill is sponsored by Common Sense and the Electronic Frontier Foundation and has support from the Rural County Representatives of California. This legislation will require the California Public Utilities Commission to update the California Advanced Service Fund program to encourage deployment of 21st century-ready high-speed broadband internet.

“Broadband for All is one of California’s solutions to ending the inequities caused by the digital divide,” Gonzalez said. “This bill will provide over a billion dollars in funding for faster broadband infrastructure to reach tens of thousands of families across the state. Broadband is not a luxury, it’s a right. There’s no reason to keep jeopardizing the education and health of so many Californians with slow and outdated broadband infrastructure.”

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