SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) released the following statement on Governor Newsom’s visit to the Central Valley to announce California’s plan to bridge the digital divide:
 

“No child should have to sit outside a fast food establishment to complete their homework and participate in class,” said Senator Hurtado. “Regardless of what part of the state you live in, all individuals should have access to reliable broadband. This investment in broadband infrastructure will transform the lives of all Californians, especially those of our children, who have been disproportionately impacted by lack of broadband.  I applaud the Governor for making a historic move to invest in broadband and underserved communities, and for signing this key legislation in the Valley.”
 

The Legislature and Governor Newsom have allocated $6 billion in AB 156, as part of the 2021-22 budget to invest in California’s internet. This investment will expand state broadband internet infrastructure, and focus on areas that have been historically underserved by private internet service providers.

$3.25 billion will be used to build “middle-mile” broadband lines, which connect the broadband service highway to the end users or “last mile.” $2 billion has been earmarked to connect “last mile” lines to internet consumers in rural and urban areas. Unserved and underserved communities will also have the option to participate in the $750 million Loan Loss Reserve program. This funding will be available to local governments, school districts and nonprofits to finance local broadband services.

Media Contact: Michelle.Sherwood@Sen.Ca.Gov

About Senator Melissa Hurtado

Senator Melissa Hurtado represents a new generation of Latina leaders as the youngest woman ever elected to the California State Senate and a product of immigrant parents. Senator Hurtado represents the 14th Senate District and focuses on rural community issues that often go unheard — access to clean air and water, food insecurity and poverty, inequities in environmental policies, agriculture and access to health care. In July 2020, she was appointed to the national Biden Latino Leadership Committee alongside former Labor Secretary and current Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis – the only two California Latinas on the Committee.

For more information, visit Senator Hurtado’s Website here or find her on Twitter at @Senator_Hurtado

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