Resilient Infrastructure​

Summary of objective implementation status (achievements or progress over last year; significant delays or issues, etc.)

In 2024, Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) staff continued to focus on broadband infrastructure deployment activities, including the completion of low-level, construction-ready design in four priority project areas, including East Cloverdale, East Santa Rosa, Jenner, and Walsh Landing. The low-level design was funded by the CPUC in the form of a Local Agency Technical Assistance (LATA) grant, and as part of that effort, EDC staff coordinated with internal and external partners, including Tilson Engineers, Sonoma County Department of Public Infrastructure, and Fort Ross Elementary School District to identify locations to permanently house the broadband power infrastructure.

In December 2024, EDC brought a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to allocate $2.35 million of its existing APRA funding towards an additional 256 miles of low-level design, through its partnership with Golden State Connect Authority. The additional low-level design will be used towards project areas prioritized for the County’s upcoming Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) grant application, which will open in early 2025.

In that same December 2024 item, the Board approved the creation of a new Time-Limited Internet Subsidy Program using EDC’s remaining ARPA funding. This program will provide free home internet subscriptions, at a minimum speed of 100 MBPS download and 20 MBPS upload, to residents of certain affordable housing units throughout the County. To meet ARPA guidelines, the subscriptions will be for one year and will be distributed and enabled by December 31, 2026.

In addition, EDC staff used digital equity grant funding from the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) to build out a Broadband Geographic Information System (GIS) Hub. This GIS Hub will provide a robust mapping tool for internal use in broadband planning to allow for dynamic and informed decision-making regarding broadband deployment and digital equity needs in the County. The Hub will also incorporate a public-facing component to keep stakeholders informed on broadband priority areas, project status, and the digital equity landscape in the County.

Key milestone update (include relevant metrics, if applicable)

The Sonoma County Economic Development Collaborative was awarded $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) enhance broadband availability and adoption. On December 3, 2024, staff received approval from the Board of Supervisors to allocate $2.35 million of those funds to develop low-level, shovel ready engineering designs for priority project areas, $200,000 towards a time-limited internet subsidy program for residents of select affordable housing sites throughout the County, and the remainder for staffing to support the projects.   

Coordination and partnership update

In 2023, Staff met with stakeholders including community groups, regional partners, and internet service providers throughout the year to communicate plans and surface opportunities for collaboration. Staff has also connected with city managers and key staff to discuss urban connectivity needs and opportunities for partnership.

EDC staff serve as the Fiscal Agent and Manager of the North Bay North Coast Broadband Consortium (NBNCBC). The NBNCBC consists of Sonoma, Napa, Marin, and Mendocino Counties. In 2024, the NBNCBC focused on implementing a Regional Fixed Wireless Analysis to determine areas where fiber deployment will not be feasible and where fixed wireless is a viable alternative, stakeholder outreach and engagement including website redesign and branding, and collaboration with internet service providers. In August 2024, the NBNCBC Oversight Committee also adopted a legislative platform to guide advocacy efforts for broadband deployment, digital equity, and closing the digital divide.

In October 2024, EDC staff partnered with the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) and Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) on their NTIA Digital Equity Competitive Grant applications for $12 million each. The CETF proposal would fund training digital navigators, digital skills training courses, and outreach regarding affordable internet service offers. The RCRC proposal would fund the purchase and placement of computer hardware and software, in locations of the County’s choosing, necessary to establish access to digital tools and learning in rural counties. Funding award announcements are expected by April 2025, and if awarded, EDC staff will coordinate with the County Executive and Board of Supervisors to identify locations and programs best suited for the funding.

Community, equity and climate update

In September 2024, EDC partnered with Los Cein to conduct a Digital Needs Assessment to determine what barriers communities are facing to fully access and participate in the digital world. The Digital Needs Assessment was conducted in low-income areas throughout the County, with focus on disadvantaged communities previous identified in the Portrait of Sonoma: 2021 Update and Health Action Together: Agenda for Action reports. To ensure we had adequate representation of the populations most in need of these services, Los Cein partnered with several community organizations and attended in person events to distribute the surveys. The results of the survey were presented to the Board of Supervisors in December 2024 and the summary report can be found here: https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7036319&GUID=753E31BA-D7C0-4FCC-8BD3-96191485FE8B&Options=&Search= ).

If this objective received Strategic Plan funding, please provide the project status and amount spent to date for non-position related funding.

No strategic plan funding has been allocated for these objectives.