Bill > AB2279

This bill, known as the Regional Broadband Consortia Empowerment Act of 2026, aims to enhance the effectiveness of the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) by revising how grants are awarded to Rural and Urban Regional Broadband Consortia. Instead of solely assisting with project development and grant applications, these consortia will now focus on promoting regional economic prosperity by actively working to close the digital divide, promote digital inclusion, and achieve digital equity. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will be responsible for approving regional work plans for each consortium, ensuring they align with a standardized scope of work. The bill mandates that the PUC allocate sufficient funds for multiyear grants to these consortia, with a minimum annual base funding of $200,000 per consortium, potentially increasing based on unserved and underserved locations and low-income households, up to a maximum of $500,000 per year. It also removes the requirement for annual audits by consortia and revises the reporting requirements to the PUC, while authorizing the PUC to contract with experienced nonprofit organizations to support the consortia.

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2279