California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Adoption Account
Broadband Adoption Gap Analysis
The California Public Utilities
Commission (CPUC) Communications Division staff released an analysis on gaps in those subscribing
to high-speed broadband internet. The Adoption Gap Analysis was ordered
in Decision (D.) 18-06-032 and identifies various demographic barriers to
broadband adoption and provides information to support important program and
grant decisions for the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Broadband
Adoption Account.
The analysis concludes that income, of all
the demographic barriers to adoption, is the most significant factor
contributing to low adoption (subscription) rates. As a result, the analysis
identifies the top ten communities with some of the lowest adoption
rates and lowest incomes in California that will be
prioritized for grant funding.
In addition to identifying various barriers, the analysis adds data to
the online California Interactive Broadband Map (http://www.broadbandmap.ca.gov/)
to include various demographic data at the census tract, block group or block
level.
These resources will assist decision makers,
stakeholders and potential CASF applicants to 1) better understand their
communities and its needs, 2) identify the area’s specific barriers and how to
address them, and 3) know where to best implement Adoption projects to yield
greater benefits. Applicants interested in applying for grants in the
CASF Adoption Account should use these tools and resources in developing
proposals. The full analysis can be found here: Broadband Adoption Gap Analysis.
Adoption Funding Overview
The Broadband Adoption Account, created via Assembly Bill 1665, provides grants to increase publicly available or after-school broadband access and digital inclusion, such as grants for digital literacy training programs and public education to communities with limited broadband adoption. The CPUC will give preference to programs and projects in communities with demonstrated low broadband access, including low income communities, senior citizen communities, and communities facing socioeconomic barriers to broadband adoption. For more information please review the program’s FAQs.
Funding Available
The Broadband Adoption Account is authorized $20 million to provide grants to increase publicly available or after-school broadband access and digital inclusion.
Eligible Applicants
Local governments, senior centers, schools, public libraries, nonprofit organizations, and community-based organizations with programs to increase publicly available or after school broadband access and digital inclusion, such as digital literacy training programs are eligible to apply for grants.
Publicly supported communities who are otherwise eligible to apply for grants from the Broadband Public Housing Account are also eligible to submit an application only after all funds available for adoption projects from the Public Housing Account have been awarded.
Eligible Projects
Digital Literacy Projects- Digital inclusion projects can include digital literacy training programs and public education to communities with limited broadband adoption, including low-income communities, senior citizen communities, and communities facing socioeconomic barriers to broadband adoption.
Broadband Access Projects- Publicly available or after-school broadband access projects can include free broadband access in community training rooms or other public spaces, such as local government centers, senior citizen centers, schools, public libraries, nonprofit organizations, and community-based organizations. It can also include funding community outreach, such as analysis, comparison of Internet plans with the community, and call centers that will increase broadband access and adoption.
Applying for Funds
Project proposals will be accepted starting July 1, 2018.
To Apply:
Applications may be submitted at any time. However, staff will consider applications submitted on or before each deadline listed below as a batch, until all funds have been awarded. Note that these application deadlines will also be posted, and updated (if needed), on the Commission’s CASF website: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/casf/
- March 1, 2019 (Closed)
- August 1, 2019 (Closed)
- January 1, 2020 (Closed)
- July 1, 2020
- January 1, 2021
- July 1, 2021
- January 1, 2022
- July 1, 2022
Any deadline falling on a holiday or a weekend will be extended to the following business day.
Staff will post a list of applicants and projects submitted by the deadline on the CASF webpage. Further, where possible, staff will post regular updates on applications on the CASF webpage.
The next deadline is July 1, 2020. Any deadline falling on a holiday or a weekend will be extended to the following business day.
Pre-Award Submissions and Funded Projects
Broadband Adoption Program Project Applications Received During the First Application Window (August 31, 2018)
Broadband Adoption Program Applicants Approved (August 31, 2018 Round)
Broadband Adoption Program Project Applications Received During the Second Application Window March 1, 2019)
Resolutions Approved:
On March 14, 2019 the Commission approved Resolution T-17650 approving 3 projects. Only one project, the Vietnamese American Community Center of the East Bay accepted the award from this resolution.
On September 12, 2019 the Commission approved Resolution T-17663 approving 3 projects.
Surveys for Participants
Digital Literacy Project Pre-Survey
Digital Literacy Project Post-Survey
Access Project Survey
Additional Information
For more information please visit:
Prospective applicants who have questions about the application process may send an email to CASF_Adoption@cpuc.ca.gov