CPUC Revises CASF Broadband Grant Rules

The California Public Utilities Commission voted 5-0 Thursday to update rules for the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) broadband infrastructure grant account (docket R.20-08-021). The changes are part of the CPUC’s implementation of California’s $6 billion broadband law last year. One significant change in the decision updates speed requirements for completed projects to 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, “which ensures that public funds support projects that deliver the speeds necessary for videoconferencing, streaming and supporting multiple users in a household,” said Commissioner Darcie Houck at the CPUC’s virtual meeting. Revising the definition of an unserved location to places lacking speeds of at least 25/3 Mbps will make more areas eligible for funding, she said. Also, the decision requires grantees to provide low-income broadband plans and participate in the federal affordable connectivity program. The changes are "vital in achieving the state's broadband objectives,” said CPUC President Alice Busching Reynolds. Commissioner Cliff Rechtschaffen applauded the decision for recognizing that affordability continues to be a major issue for many Californians: "It's not just access.” Consumer advocates mostly supported the draft in comments last month, but telecom companies raised concerns with proposed changes to the challenge process in the broadband support program (see 2210210055). Also, industry expressed concern about the staff’s proposal to require applicants to freeze prices in project areas for at least five years.