California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Public Housing Account

Public Housing Account Funding Overview

Important Information

On May 19, 2022, the Commission issued Decision (D.) 22-05-029 modifying the CASF Broadband Public Housing Account Rules and Guidelines. See Program Overview section below for more information.

News

December 15, 2022: CPUC Approves Environmental Review for Project To Bring Broadband to Rural California To Serve Tribes and Others (CPUC Press Release)
December 15, 2022: CPUC Approves Funding for Public Housing Broadband Projects (CPUC Press Release)

Program Overview

Pursuant to Public Utilities (Pub. Util.) Code section 281, the Broadband Public Housing Account provides grants and loans to build broadband networks offering free broadband service for residents of low-income communities including but not limited to, publicly supported housing developments, and other housing developments or mobile home parks with low-income residents. In (D.) 22-05-029, the Commission made programmatic changes to the Broadband Public Housing Account per SB 156.

The Broadband Public Housing Account rules and requirements are set in (D.) 22-05-029. Specifically, see:

See the Broadband Public Housing Account, Background and History for more information.

Rules and Guidelines in Appendix 1 of (D.) 22-05-029 for the Broadband Public Housing Account.

Public Utilities Code section 281 is the guiding statute for CASF and sets overall CASF goals, rules and requirements.

Eligible Applicants

Beginning in the July 1, 2022, application round, publicly supported housing developments and farmworker housing are eligible to apply for grants.

“Publicly supported housing development” is a publicly supported multi-unit housing development that is wholly owned by either of the following:

(i) A public housing agency that has been chartered by the state, or by any city or county in the state.

(ii) An incorporated nonprofit organization as described in Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3))12 that is exempt from taxation under Section 501 (a) of that code (16 U.S.C. Sec. 501(a)) and that has received public funding to subsidize the construction or maintenance of housing occupied by residents whose annual income qualifies as “low” or “very low” income according to federal poverty guidelines.

“Farmworker housing” is housing that is consistent with the definition of “farmworker housing” set forth in California Health and Safety Code Section 50199.7 (h), which includes the requirement that “farmworker housing” means housing in which at least 50 percent of the units are available to, and occupied by, farmworkers and their households.

Eligibility rules for other low-income housing developments and mobilehome parks with low- income residents will be made eligible at a later application round based on another Commission Rulemaking in proceeding R.20-08-021.

See the Broadband Public Housing Account, Background and History for more information.

Funding Available

The allocated funding for the Broadband Public Housing Account is $15 million for fiscal year 2022-2023. The Broadband Public Housing Account will finance up to 100 percent of the costs to install inside wiring and broadband network equipment.

Applying for Funds

To Apply

Review Broadband Public Housing Account Application Instructions

Review the Application Process Overview PowerPoint

Complete and Submit the Broadband Public Housing Account Application Package and Notarized Affidavit

Applications may be submitted at any time. However, staff will consider applications submitted on or before each deadline listed below as a batch. To be considered in that timeframe, applications must be received on or before the following dates

January 1, 2023

July 1, 2023

and so forth until funds are exhausted

Any deadline falling on a holiday, or a weekend will be extended to the following business day.

After each deadline, staff will post notice of all applications received on the Commission’s website.