Score: +31 (54/77/23)
Marin County Grand Jury • 2024-2025

Marin’s Telecommunications Disconnect

9 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 8 findings

F1
Neither the County nor any of its agencies is providing strategic leadership or advice for telecommunications services such as broadband internet access or 5G, leaving Marin poorly served.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Each municipality has been obliged to negotiate separately with 5G and fiber to the home telecom providers, so the potential benefits of aggregation have been lost and some communities remain unserved or underserved.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The MTA has chosen to abandon its policy making and coordinating mission, so the MTA serves no strategic or advisory function to the county.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
Currently, the main function of the MTA which is to collect and distribute cable franchise and PEG fees to its members, could be efficiently performed by the MGSA.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The MTA’s franchise fee collection and disbursement responsibilities should be moved to the MGSA.
F5
CMCM is a nonprofit tax-exempt corporation which is governed by its own board so it could operate without MTA oversight.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
MTA’s responsibilities for CMCM should be terminated.
F6
The MTA has applied for few of the available Federal or CPUC grants, and it has missed opportunities to access existing fiber networks, all of which has caused Marin County to fall behind the levels of telecom service provided to other areas in California.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
The MTA’s income is declining and may be eliminated altogether; as a result, the MTA will have no function and is likely to disband or it will need to be funded by its constituent municipalities or from some other source.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The MTA should be dissolved.
F8
The county could benefit from strategic guidance and leadership in technical, business and regulatory matters regarding telecommunications for its businesses and residents.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
By December 31, 2019, the Board of Supervisors should appoint a citizen’s advisory committee that will provide advice and information on telecommunications services and policy. The Grand Jury recommends that citizens with telecommunications expertise be appointed to the committee.

Agency Responses 54

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

No Responses Found 6

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

Belvedere City
County of Marin Agency
Marin County Board of Supervisors Elected County Office
Mill Valley City
San Rafael City
Sausalito City