CPUC Sets Workshop, Hears Comments on CASF Changes
The California Public Utilities Commission plans a broadband workshop Thursday about changes to the California Advanced Services Fund, the agency said last week as it received comments and replies on CASF issues including coronavirus response in docket R.12-10-012. Revamp CASF,…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Export Compliance Daily combines U.S. export control news, foreign border import regulation and policy developments into a single daily information service that reliably informs its trade professional readers about important current issues affecting their operations.
the Greenlining Institute commented Wednesday. “The broadband landscape has changed significantly since 2012, and CASF’s goal of universal connectivity is more important than ever.” The California Emerging Technology Fund agreed: “The same sense of urgency needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic should be brought to the ongoing administration of CASF.” CASF "funding should not be awarded in areas where infrastructure already is funded by federal or any other public programs,” the California Cable & Telecommunications Association commented. Target it to “the build out of infrastructure only in areas that remain unserved.” CCTA complained mapping and challenge process sometimes lead to flagging served areas as unserved. Don't stop matching support with “other grants, loans, local government bonds or private contributions for broadband projects,” countered the Rural County Representatives of California. The Utility Reform Network agreed applications should be able to combine state and federal funding. The Central Coast Broadband Consortium local government group said there’s “no blanket prohibition” on combining grant sources, though there’s “properly a prohibition on a grantee receiving payment from one grant source for an eligible expense that has already been paid by another.” The COVID-19 “pandemic has brought to the forefront glaring gaps in digital equity -- broadband availability and affordability and digital literacy,” the state library replied on CASF and the virus. “Augmenting, as we are now, is a powerful stopgap, but it is only part of the long-term solution.” Thursday’s webcast begins at 10 a.m. PDT.