To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Economic Development Board
Staff Name and Phone Number: Ethan Brown (707) 565-7170
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
California Emerging Technology Fund Regional Broadband Consortium Leadership Grant
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a resolution authorizing acceptance of California Emerging Technology Fund Regional Broadband Consortium Leadership grant funding and delegating authority to the Economic Development Board to execute grant agreement(s), and all related and required grant program materials for such funding, in form approved by County Counsel.
B) Adopt a resolution authorizing a budgetary adjustment of $100,000 to the Economic Development Board 2022-2023 Final Budget (4/5th Vote Required)
(4/5th Vote Required)
end
Executive Summary:
On behalf of the North Bay North Coast Broadband Consortium (NBNCBC), Economic Development has been awarded grant funds totaling $100,000, from the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) Regional Broadband Consortium Leadership (RBCL) grant program. The county department will receive and administer those funds as the fiscal agent for NBNCBC. The funding will be used for programs and projects to increase access to and use of existing broadband services, including via innovative outreach strategies to historically unserved and underserved communities.
Discussion:
Many unincorporated areas of Sonoma County have long experienced limited broadband availability, often referred to as unserved and underserved areas. In 2021, the Board of Supervisors took significant action to start to close the internet availability gap by directing staff to research options to expand broadband access and advanced adoption.
On December 14, 2021, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors set aside $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support infrastructure and start-up costs for broadband deployment in Sonoma County, as outlined in the Broadband Action Plan that was approved in June 2021.
In addition to the importance of developing new reliable broadband infrastructure and services in unserved and underserved areas of the county, providing residents with affordable and equitable access to existing services is key in supporting regional efforts to bridge the digital divide. Efforts along these lines are typically referred to as “adoption”.
To further broadband accessibility and advanced adoption, the Economic Development Board applied for and received notice of an intent to award grant funds totaling $100,000 from the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) Regional Broadband Consortium Leadership (RBCL) grant program. Building upon current community partnerships, the CETF has issued grants to support regional organizations throughout the state to better equip agencies with the funding to pursue innovative outreach strategies to reach historically unserved and underserved communities.
In partnership with the North Bay North Coast Broadband Consortium (NBNCBC), staff have developed a work plan to utilize these funds leveraging the EDB’s recent Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) grant award. The CETF RBCL allows for a multi-jurisdictional approach to the promotion of advanced adoption and will fund additional activities that are otherwise not authorized through the ACP grant.
While many Sonoma County residents enjoy financial security, 8.7% (42,142 of the 485,874 last assessed) of county residents reported annual incomes below the Federal Poverty Level (2017-2021 American Community Survey <https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-kits/2022/acs-5-year.html>). In the last five years, Sonoma County home prices have increased by 40% and residential rental rates have increased by 20%. Significant disparities exist in poverty rates, especially for residents of Hispanic or Latino origin, who experience a higher rate of poverty (11%) than Whites, not Hispanic or Latino (7.3%), and Asians (7.3%).
According to ’Internet for All Nows Enrollment Tracker <https://www.internetforallnow.org/acp-enrollment-tracker>, roughly 71,600 Sonoma County households could have free high-speed internet service via the federal government’s subsidized internet services (ACP) program. However, currently only 8,894 households, or just 12% of eligible households, are enrolled in the ACP program.
Strategic Plan:
This request directly supports the Resilient Infrastructure pillar, Goal 4, Objective 1 of the County’s Strategic Plan
Pillar: Resilient Infrastructure
Goal: Goal 4: Seek out grant funding to enhance programs and improve infrastructure
Objective: Objective 1: Leverage funding and seek grants to expand communications infrastructure within the community to improve equitable access to broadband, wireless, and cell phone services.
Prior Board Actions:
12/14/2021 - American Rescue Plan Act Funding Allocations including funding for Broadband Infrastructure <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5351534&GUID=28CE5BAF-B7FA-4D8E-A7B2-94FE0D321E14&Options=&Search=>
6/8/2021 - Received the Access Sonoma Broadband Action Plan <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4969607&GUID=2C155E3E-CBC0-406A-8D98-90893354EC4E&Options=&Search=>
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 22-23 Adopted |
FY23-24 Projected |
FY 24-25 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The California Emerging Technology Fund has awarded $100,000 to the North Bay North Coast Broadband Consortium (NBNCBC) for which the County of Sonoma is a fiscal agent. Estimated program costs to be incurred by the County of Sonoma include $25,000 for staff hours. The remaining balance of $75,000 will be distributed among fellow NBNCBC members Marin, Mendocino, and Napa counties, at approximately $25,000 to each member for program costs such as staff hours, travel expenses and printed materials for outreach.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
1) Delegate Authority Resolution
2) Budget Resolution
3) California Emerging Technology Fund Regional Broadband Leadership Notice of Intent
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None