How a ‘once in a century’ broadband investment plan could go wrong

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Nearly $2 billion in funding to bridge the digital divide is at stake in the next 30 days. Advocacy groups say the challenge process is designed to fail.

Email addressGet the news that matters to all Californians. Start every week informed.Nearly $2 billion in broadband funding is at stake in the next 30 days, but advocacy groups say the challenge process is designed to fail.

For example, after the COVID-19 pandemic hit and teachers at the Fresno Unified School District started teaching classes remotely, Philip Neufeld started work to ensure 7,000 students could log on., started noticing patterns.

Among more than 80 such organizations registered to participate in the challenge process, roughly two dozen are municipal, county, or tribal governments. Because of the difficulty involved with collecting speed test data, Oakland Undivided changed focus from speed tests and the challenge process to instead seek greater internet availability for community institutions. But Messac, who also works in IT for the city of Oakland, worries that the federal broadband dollars could get depleted before places like schools, libraries, and Head Start centers would be in line for funding.

“We are concerned that internet service providers allege that they serve areas but many locations cannot receive the level of service required by the BEAD program,” he said.

 

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