October 17-18, 2013
Call to Action: Close the Digital Divide in California
The California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) convened the Local Government Officials Roundtable in partnership with the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), League of California Cities (LCC), Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), and Valley Vision (who assisted with the planning, organization and recruitment of participants for the Roundtable). Comcast was a co-sponsor. The goals of the Local Government Officials Roundtable were to:
- Engage a “critical mass” of key Local Government Officials throughout California to become active champions in closing the Digital Divide.
- Explore and exchange information about the key roles of Local Government Officials in closing the Digital Divide: Policy Leader; Planner; Regulator; Consumer; and Service Provider.
- Understand and discuss the challenges facing broadband providers in deploying infrastructure to meet increasing consumer demands: identify options and strategies for addressing concerns, resolving conflicts, and improving outcomes.
CALL TO ACTION: Distribute CPUC Validation of Broadband Availability Survey. This expanded data collection will greatly improve California’s broadband access information and inform, validate, invalidate the state’s broadband mapping data – particularly in regions where broadband availability may be grossly misstated. Coupled with the priority communities list the CPUC is developing with all the Regional Consortia, the renewed statewide participation will significantly improve the broadband picture & gaps in the state. The improved broadband data will play a critical role in the next round of CASF infrastructure funding.