Governor Newsom signs bills to advance equitable broadband internet services

FORE IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 2021

Governor Newsom signs SB 4, SB 28, SB 378, AB 14, and AB 41
to advance equitable broadband internet services

Los Angeles – As co-convenor of the LA Digital Equity Action League (LA DEAL), the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) applauds Governor Newsom for his bold leadership on Digital Equity and for today signing SB 4, SB 28, SB 378, AB 14, and AB 41 for the purpose of advancing equitable broadband internet service deployment to unserved and underserved communities across California. These bills will provide a critical source of funding to expand broadband infrastructure, increase affordability, and enhance access to Broadband for all Californians.

“Achieving the Governor’s vision of Broadband for All in California is essential to our state’s ability to build a truly inclusive economy that taps the talents of all Californians, enhances the competitiveness and resilience of all our dynamic regions, and strengthens our position in the global economy.” said LAEDC CEO Bill Allen.

As the CPUC designated grantee for the California Advanced Services Fund Rural and Urban Regional Broadband Consortia for LA County, the LA DEAL consortia is comprised of over 100 partners from government, business, education, healthcare, and nonprofit sectors working together to eliminate the digital divide in LA County. This coalition has been assembled to work with CPUC, internet service providers (ISP) and community-driven stakeholders to identify project opportunities in underserved urban communities and unserved rural areas of LA County worthy of consideration for subsidies by the California Advanced Services Fund and help develop and submit applications to the CPUC for funding to install high-speed internet infrastructure.

We applaud SB 4 and SB 378 author Senator Lena Gonzalez, SB 28 author Senator Anna Caballero, AB 14 author Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, AB 41 author Assemblymember Jim Wood, all members of the state legislature who voted in favor of the bills and Governor Newsom for his signature as their combined leadership has taken our state an ambitious step closer to achieving real digital equity.

About the LAEDC
LAEDC drives action in support of a reimagined Los Angeles regional economy that is growing, equitable, sustainable, and resilient, and provides a healthy and high standard of living for all. A public-benefit nonprofit celebrating its 40th year of working collaboratively to improve the lives of people through economic inclusion, LAEDC is a trusted leader working on behalf of the Los Angeles County region. Visit www.laedc.org to learn more.

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Media contact
Alex Medina
(213) 236-4847
[email protected]


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