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Extraído del Informe Consolidado
Esta investigación fue publicada originalmente como parte de un informe consolidado más amplio que contiene múltiples investigaciones. Consulte el PDF consolidado para ver el documento completo.
Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
• 2020-2021
Turn On, Tune In, and Drop Out Broadband Access in Santa Cruz County
⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 6 findings
F1
The Broadband Master Plan developed and updated in 2015 is obsolete due to subsequent actions and events.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Board of Supervisors needs to update the 2015 Master Plan within the next six months including, but not limited to: 1) the special difficulties and costs posed by rural broadband infrastructure; 2) the challenges and infrastructure achievements in 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis; and 3) opportunities for new funding sources and due to regulatory changes from the California State and Federal Government and how they are to be coordinated with the efforts to date to provide distance learning and broadband access. (F1, F2, F3, F6)
F2
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.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
The Board of Supervisors needs to update the 2015 Master Plan within the next six months including, but not limited to: 1) the special difficulties and costs posed by rural broadband infrastructure; 2) the challenges and infrastructure achievements in 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis; and 3) opportunities for new funding sources and due to regulatory changes from the California State and Federal Government and how they are to be coordinated with the efforts to date to provide distance learning and broadband access. (F1, F2, F3, F6)
R3
Within the next six months the Board of Supervisors should establish a program to educate the public concerning the need for expanded broadband access, the importance of obtaining outside funding, and the decisions to be made concerning the role of commercial ISPs. (F2, F3)
F3
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.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
The Board of Supervisors needs to update the 2015 Master Plan within the next six months including, but not limited to: 1) the special difficulties and costs posed by rural broadband infrastructure; 2) the challenges and infrastructure achievements in 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis; and 3) opportunities for new funding sources and due to regulatory changes from the California State and Federal Government and how they are to be coordinated with the efforts to date to provide distance learning and broadband access. (F1, F2, F3, F6)
R3
Within the next six months the Board of Supervisors should establish a program to educate the public concerning the need for expanded broadband access, the importance of obtaining outside funding, and the decisions to be made concerning the role of commercial ISPs. (F2, F3)
R4
Within the next six months the Board of Supervisors should determine whether it is feasible for the county to establish, own, manage, or operate broadband access systems. (F3, F5, F6)
F4
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.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Within the next six months the Board of Supervisors should coordinate with the County Office of Education to determine the costs and logistics for continuing internet access in time for the 2022-2023 school year. (F4)
F5
The Board of Supervisors hasn’t done enough to take advantage of the growing opportunities to promote broadband access for the county.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Within the next six months the Board of Supervisors should determine whether it is feasible for the county to establish, own, manage, or operate broadband access systems. (F3, F5, F6)
F6
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.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
The Board of Supervisors needs to update the 2015 Master Plan within the next six months including, but not limited to: 1) the special difficulties and costs posed by rural broadband infrastructure; 2) the challenges and infrastructure achievements in 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis; and 3) opportunities for new funding sources and due to regulatory changes from the California State and Federal Government and how they are to be coordinated with the efforts to date to provide distance learning and broadband access. (F1, F2, F3, F6)
R4
Within the next six months the Board of Supervisors should determine whether it is feasible for the county to establish, own, manage, or operate broadband access systems. (F3, F5, F6)
Additional Recommendations 1
These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.
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R2Within the next six months the Board of Supervisors should identify and apply for all available broadband access funding. (F3, F5 )
Conclusions 1
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CL1From limited allowable activities during the last decade, local government leadership is having to make many decisions about sudden availability of a constellation of potential newly allowed roles they can perform. They are faced with a huge array of sources of funding to pursue.[15] [16] [26] [27] [28] [29] The circumstances that erupted in 2020 could not have been anticipated before 2020. The plan has not been replaced or updated to reflect any changes since 2015, let alone the major funding and regulatory shifts since 2020. The world-wide COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences provided unanticipated opportunities along with the death and disruption it brought.[15] [16] Figuring out which opportunities to pursue, and how far the county can commit itself to each opportunity is by itself quite a challenge, but one that our county’s leadership must address.