TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Supervisor Hamburg
MEETING DATE: March 27, 2018
DEPARTMENT CONTACT:
Supervisor Hamburg
PHONE:
463-4441
ITEM TYPE: Regular Agenda
TIME ALLOCATED FOR ITEM: 30 Minutes
AGENDA TITLE:
title
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Progress Report from AT&T on Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II Buildout in Mendocino County and Insights from the Redwood Complex Fire
(Sponsor: Supervisor Hamburg)
End
RECOMMENDED ACTION/MOTION:
recommendation
Accept presentation from AT&T regarding Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II buildout in Mendocino County and insights from the Redwood Complex Fire.
End
PREVIOUS BOARD/BOARD COMMITTEE ACTIONS:
The Board has had periodic presentations from AT&T staff; however, this is the first presentation on the progress of the CAF program.
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
The Connect America Fund - also known as the Universal Service High-Cost program - is the FCC's program to expand access to voice and broadband services for areas where they are unavailable. Through CAF Phase II, the FCC provided funding to local telephone companies to subsidize the cost of building new network infrastructure or performing network upgrades to provide voice and broadband service in areas where it is lacking.
AT&T reports that it has met its FCC Connect America Fund-Phase II state level commitment for EOY 2017. It is not known whether that is for Phase II statewide of for Mendocino County. It will be helpful to know of any obstacles the company is facing with respect to build-out in the county. The question also remains as to how areas unserved by Phase II will eventually be served. Will California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) dollars be used?
AT&T plans to share their progress on the Connect America Fund Phase II buildout as well as share insights or lessons from the Redwood Complex Fire. For example, is infrastructure replacement in fire-affected areas using of copper or fiber?
ALTERNATIVE ACTION/MOTIO...
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