Last Mile Federal Funding Account
Background
The Federal Funding Account, established by the CPUC according to Senate Bill 156, will fund last mile broadband infrastructure projects to connect unserved and underserved Californians with high-speed broadband service. The Federal Funding Account has a $2 billion budget made up of state and federal funds. Projects built using the federal American Rescue Plan Act funds must be built by 2027. Read this Broadband Investments Package fact sheet for more information on the last mile broadband funding.
Federal Funding Account Rules and Guidelines
Entities interested in applying should familiarize themselves with the following.
- Decision 22-04-055 and Appendix A: The decision sets the Federal Funding Account rules and guidelines.
Priority Areas Eligible for Funding
In Decision 22-04-055, the CPUC directed the creation of priority areas to facilitate the effective and equitable distribution of program funds. Priority areas are available via the priority areas webpage. The webpage provides a Priority Areas Public Map, user guide, data, and additional priority areas information.
The CPUC will next release an applicant tool that will allow applicants to select priority areas for funding and submit to the CPUC as part of their grant application. Applicants will be able to add to or subtract from a selected priority area. Please note that applications which have additions to or subtractions from a priority area are not available for ministerial review.
Stay Updated
This webpage will be continually updated with program information. To receive updates on the Federal Funding Account program, sign up using the “Statewide Broadband Updates” form available on the right side of this webpage.
Key program documents will also be provided to the Broadband Deployment proceeding (Rulemaking 20-09-001) and the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) proceeding (Rulemaking 20-08-021) service lists.
Resources
- The Broadband Factors for Last Mile Connectivity report presents considerations based on best practices and industry standards regarding network design and technical criteria for last mile providers interconnecting with middle-mile networks. The analysis includes considerations from the public comments filed with the CPUC on middle-mile locations and network characteristics.
- Webinar: Last Mile Broadband - CPUC Funding Programs to Close the Digital Divide | Recording | Presentation
- California Annual Collected Broadband Data
Contact Us
Email questions about the Last Mile Federal Funding Account to federalfundingaccount@cpuc.ca.gov.
Last Mile Federal Funding Account
