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 are being accepted beginning July 1, 2018.

To Apply:

Review Adoption Account Application Instructions
Complete and Submit the Adoption Account Application Package (Updated January 1, 2019)
Submit Affidavit

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
August 1, 2019
January 1, 2020
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 August 1, 2019.