The California State Association of Counties (CSAC) is thrilled
to report the appointments of Supervisor Luis Alejo, District 1,
Monterey County and Supervisor Valerie Starkey, District 2, Del
Norte County to the Middle-Mile Advisory Committee.
In 2021, CSAC and a broad coalition of local government
stakeholders supported the passage of SB 156 (Committee on Budget
and Fiscal Review), which provided a historic $6 billion
investment in broadband infrastructure. This investment
prioritizes construction in communities with little or no
broadband access in both rural and urban areas. The Middle-Mile
Advisory Committee monitors the development and construction of
the open-access middle-mile network. The Committee’s guiding
principles include:
Providing affordable, open-access, middle-mile broadband
infrastructure to enable last mile network connectivity
throughout the state.
Building the network expeditiously, leveraging existing
infrastructure, networks, and construction projects, where
feasible.
Prioritizing connectivity to unserved and underserved
communities, including community institutions.
On January 1, 2023, AB 2256 (Quirk-Silva) was enacted, which
added two local government officials to the Middle-Mile Advisory
Committee. Including local government representatives is critical
to the success of a statewide middle-mile network, providing a
perspective that allows local officials to identify the needs and
gaps within their communities. CSAC along with the County of
Monterey were proud co-sponsors AB 2256 and is delighted that
Supervisor Alejo and Supervisor Starkey will provide their unique
points of view from the perspective of local government on this
key committee.
