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
Federal Communications Commission Affordable Connectivity Program Grant
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a Resolution authorizing acceptance of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 2023 Affordable Connectivity (ACP) Outreach Grant Program grant funding and for the County Administrator and the Economic Development Board to execute grant agreement(s), and all related and required grant program materials, for such funding, in a form approved by County Counsel.
B) Adopt a Resolution authorizing a budgetary adjustment of $50,000 to the Economic Development Board 2022-2023 Final Budget. (4/5th Vote Required)
(4/5th Vote Required)
end
Executive Summary:
The Economic Development Board (EDB) has applied for funding under the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Affordable Connectivity (ACP) Outreach Grant Program (<https://www.fcc.gov/acp>). The ACP program provides discounts on broadband service and connected devices to qualifying low-income households. ACP’s Outreach Program supports outreach and marketing efforts to increase awareness of and enrollment in the ACP and its benefits.
EDB has been tentatively informed that the County has been awarded $300,000 in ACP funding for program outreach and marketing. Through partners that serve BIPOC, LatinX, and other under-represented communities, staff will drive awareness and enrollment in the largest broadband affordability Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). In order to receive those funds, grant agreements and other funding documents with the FCC will be required. The proposed delegation will streamline the ACP grant award process, by allowing the EDB Executive Director, or designee, to negotiate and execute all necessary grant agreements and materials required to obtain the funding.
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. The Board’s actions parallel recent state and federal grant programs that fund and facilitate broadband planning and infrastructure, including the California Public Utility Commission’s (CPUC) Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program and the American Rescue Plan Act.
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 approved in June of 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 (EDB) applied for and received notice of an intent to award grant funds totaling $300,000 from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The grant is intended to be used to drive awareness and enrollment in the largest broadband affordability program in the nation’s history. Building upon current community partnerships, the FCC has issued grants to support partner organizations nationwide to serve as trusted community messengers about the ACP and to better equip agencies with the funding to pursue innovative outreach strategies to reach historically unserved and underserved communities.
Under the ACP grant, there is no local match requirement. EDB has reviewed current grant program requirements, including performance periods, non-supplantation and reporting obligations, and restrictions on eligible activities. Staff is prepared to accept and administer all terms required for grant compliance. Final grant terms will be reviewed by EDB staff for feasibility and County Counsel will approve all such final terms as to form.
EDB staff have developed a comprehensive plan to increase awareness of and to provide guidance for enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) among eligible community members. The plan is designed to conduct outreach activities including, but not limited to direct mail, paid advertising, and in-person events to target communities with an enrollment rate of less than 5% and incomes of less than $80,000 annually.
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 ACP program. Currently, only 8,894 households, or just 12% of eligible households are enrolled in the ACP program. Under the plan for use of ACP funds, the EDB aims to at least double the number of enrolled households to 17,788 households by December 2026.
EDB plans to partner with 10 local economic development groups, 23 business organizations and chambers of commerce, and over 30 community organizations that serve BIPOC, LatinX, and other under-represented communities to amplify messaging across a broad spectrum of stakeholders and constituencies. In addition, the EDB intends to collaborate with all nine cities to provide resources on ACP outreach. Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County (CAP), a Santa Rosa non-profit that helps low-income families and individuals achieve economic and social stability, also received a $200,000 grant to promote the ACP to local households. Once grant awards are finalized for both agencies, the EDB and CAP will collaborate to expand the outreach efforts of this program.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
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 |
$250,000 |
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$50,000 |
$250,000 |
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
$50,000 |
$250,000 |
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$50,000 |
$250,000 |
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Sonoma County has been awarded $300,000 by the Federal Communications Commission. Estimated program costs to be incurred by the Economic Development Board include $15,000 for indirect overhead costs attributable to the project including, but not limited to vendor and project management as well as local agency staff hours. Approximately $285,000 of the grant will be allocated to contractual expenses such as direct mail and paid digital and media campaigns, staff event attendance, and outreach materials. At this time, we do not have funds allocated for external partners from the revised budget, but as the grant period progresses, we will maintain communication with regional partners and be prepared to request budget modifications if additional program support is needed.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
1) Delegated Authority Resolution
2) Budget Resolution
3) Federal Communications Commission Affordable Connectivity Program Notice of Intent to Award Grant
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None