California Advanced Services Fund: Broadband Infrastructure Grant Project

The California Advanced Services Fund's Broadband Infrastructure Grant Project aims to provide free broadband service to residents of low-income communities through grants and loans. With a funding allocation of $15 million for the fiscal year, eligible applicants can request up to $150,000 to build broadband networks in public housing and mobile home parks. This initiative seeks to bridge the digital divide by ensuring access to high-speed internet for underserved populations.

Purpose
The basis of the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Broadband Public Housing Account is to provide grants and loans to finance projects to build broadband networks offering free broadband service for residents of low-income communities.
The CASF Broadband Public Housing Account provides grants and loans to build broadband networks offering free broadband service for residents of low-income communities including, but not limited to, publicly supported housing developments, farmworker housing, and other housing developments or mobile home parks with low-income residents that do not have access to any broadband service provider that offers free broadband service that meets or exceeds state standards for the residents of the low-income community. The allocated funding for the Broadband Public Housing Account is $15 million for the current fiscal year.  The Broadband Public Housing Account will finance up to 100 percent of the costs to install inside wiring and broadband network equipment.
Funding
Applicants can request up to $150,000 per project and be approved by ministerial review. Funding requests above $150,000 may be approved by the Commission via Resolution.