CPUC Mulls $2.86 Million Broadband Grant, Nears Funding Cap
The California Public Utilities Commission plans to vote Nov. 10 on a $2.86 million broadband grant to Cal.net to provide internet and VoIP services to underserved rural communities in Amador, Calaveras and Alpine counties, said a draft order released Tuesday.…
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The money would come from the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF). The proposed order OKs a project that covers about 455 square miles with 25/4 Mbps broadband speeds. Cal.net also plans to provide service to five anchor institutions and eight fire stations, and provide an interconnected public safety data communications network. Before CPUC votes on the grant, it plans to vote Oct. 13 on a draft resolution to reduce the surcharge rate of the CASF for end-user intrastate charges to zero from 0.464 percent. The reduction is necessary to avoid exceeding the fund’s cap this month, CPUC said in a revised draft order released Tuesday. “Since the estimated total CASF monthly surcharge collected by carriers is about $4.5 million, maintaining the surcharge rate at 0.464% would exceed the $315 million cap by the amount of $8.5 million on December 1, 2016.”