Los Angeles and Bay Area – May 14, 2021 – CETF and partners applaud “bold” commitment for expanding broadband investment; group calls for regional coordination to ensure state “gets fair share” of federal dollars to leverage state investment – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom released the May Revision of the 2021-22 budget proposal and calls for the investment of $7 billion in broadband infrastructure deployment and adoption programs.
STATEMENT FROM SUNNE WRIGHT MCPEAK, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CALIFORNIA EMERGING TECHNOLOGY FUND (CETF):
“The California Emerging Technology Fund and our partners in the Digital Equity Coalition applaud the Governor’s proposal to invest $7B in broadband to close the Digital Divide in California. This bold move by Governor Newsom will ensure that California will be first in line to secure our fair share of federal investments in broadband. In addition, this investment will accelerate economic recovery and attract new capital investment into California.”
The Digital Equity Coalition consists of the California Emerging Technology Fund, California Forward Action Fund, California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, California Schools Board Association, Connected Capital Area Broadband Consortium, Fresno State Connect Initiative, Inland Empire Regional Broadband Consortium, Latino Caucus of California Counties, Northeastern California Connect Consortium, San Joaquin Valley Regional Broadband Consortium, Southeast Community Development Corporation, Southern Border Broadband Consortium, Upstate California Connect Consortium, Valley Vision.
About California Emerging Technology Fund
CETF is a statewide non-profit foundation with the mission to close the Digital Divide in California. CETF provides grants to non-profit community-based organizations (CBOs) to assist low-income households adopt broadband and become digitally proficient, leads and manages School2Home to successfully integrate technology into teaching and learning with deep parent engagement to close the Achievement Gap in middle schools in low-income neighborhoods, and promotes Digital Inclusion in public policy to achieve Digital Equity.
Media Contacts:
Mary Anne Ostrom, m.a.ostrom@cetfund.org or (510) 381-3070