Santa Cruz Grand Jury Board of Supervisors Responses--2020-2021 Grand Jury Report "Turn On, Tune In, and Drop Out"

The Broadband Master Plan developed and updated in 2015 is obsolete due to subsequent actions and events. _x_ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree):

There has been insufficient official and public advocacy for broadband access. Advocacy cannot succeed without communication about what is being done for constituents and their input into the efforts being performed for them. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _x_ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): There has been significant engagement and interest in development of broadband infrastructure. The County Broadband Master Plan was updated in 2017. In 2017-18, the Office for Economic Development conducted a Broadband Survey and provided results to service providers. In Fall 2018, two community meetings were held in Felton and Aptos inviting local service providers to present and meet directly with interested residents one-on-one at tables after the presentation. Several providers attended including Comcast, AT&T, Spectrum, Ridge, Cruzio, Surfnet among others. The largest barrier is the cost of developing this infrastructure. In April 2021, the Board directed staff to set aside $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funds for the purpose of expanding broadband access. In August 2021, the Board authorized the Information Services Department to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for companies to provide broadband services in unserved/underserved areas of Santa Cruz County.

Starting in 2020, large increases in potential funding and across the board regulatory reform have widened the opportunity for local governments to implement broadband access. __ AGREE _x_ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The County has not yet experienced widened opportunities to implement broadband access. New State and federal funding is not available to the County to date, but staff are continuing to monitor and track for new opportunities. For example, in April 2021, the Board directed staff to set aside $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funds for the purpose of expanding broadband access. In August 2021, the Board authorized the Information Services Department to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for companies to provide broadband services in unserved/underserved areas of Santa Cruz County.

An important beneficial outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic has been broadband access and computers for distance learning. Underserved areas, such as the Pajaro Valley where the county's need was the greatest, were significantly improved. _x_ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree):

The Board of Supervisors hasn’t done enough to take advantage of the growing opportunities to promote broadband access for the county. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _x_ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The County has been engaged on this issue and continues to monitor and track for new funding opportunities.

The challenges for the establishment of rural broadband networks are significantly different for residential and business use. Coordination and funding is needed from both government and private entities. __ AGREE _x_ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Residential and commercial users both rely upon one network.