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CDT reports construction underway on California open‑access middle‑mile network; business plan pending
Summary
The California Department of Technology told the Assembly subcommittee that more than a dozen partners are under contract to build an open‑access middle‑mile broadband network and that more than 3,000 miles are under construction; the department said its business plan and annual report are in final review and will be submitted soon.
The California Department of Technology (CDT) updated the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on progress implementing SB 156’s open‑access Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, which aims to build roughly an 8,000‑mile network to expand high‑speed broadband access.
Jared Johnson, Deputy State Chief Information Officer and chief deputy director at CDT, said the state has contracted with more than a dozen partners to construct, lease and purchase more than 7,300 miles and that over 3,000 miles are currently in construction. Mark Monroe, deputy director for the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, told the subcommittee that about 3,400 miles are in construction toward an approximate 8,000‑mile goal and that the network will reach unserved and underserved communities and the 105 FFA grant applicants expected to connect to the network.
CDT said it expects to complete the network encumbrance by December 2026 and noted that 2028 is the liquidation deadline for funds once encumbrances are in place. The department confirmed that, because the funds are now general fund appropriations, contracts must be encumbered by the 2026 deadline and fully liquidated by 2028.
The Legislative Analyst's Office noted that a detailed business plan for the network—required by last year's budget act and originally due January 31—had not yet been transmitted to the Legislature; CDT said the business plan and annual report are in final review and will be submitted soon.
CDT and the subcommittee discussed permitting logistics for segments routed through Caltrans rights‑of‑way. CDT staff said roughly 4,000 miles of the planned partnerships will require encroachment permits from Caltrans and that the department is meeting with partners and Caltrans to help partners navigate the encroachment process and anticipate construction start dates.
Public comment included requests from the California Alliance for Digital Equity for additional answers; they said they would submit written questions to the committee.
