County staff green-light Golden State Connect Authority to seek federal‑state broadband funds for Trinity

The Trinity County Board of Supervisors heard a detailed briefing April 1 from Barbara Hayes of the Golden State Connect Authority (GSCA) on federal and state broadband funding opportunities and a plan to apply on behalf of the county for federal‑funded last‑mile projects.

GSCA, a joint powers authority that represents many of California’s rural counties, is preparing applications for the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Federal Fund Account (FFA) last‑mile round 2 and is also evaluating opportunities under the federal BEAD program administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Barbara Hayes said the county did not participate in FFA round 1 and that GSCA is now working to identify unserved addresses in Trinity County to include in a proposed project area and submit an FFA round 2 application if the county supports it.

Hayes said the FFA round‑2 application window had not yet been formally announced but was expected in April and to remain open for a short, two‑week period. She told supervisors that the CPUC is likely to issue award recommendations for the remaining six eligible counties in August or…