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San Rafael accepts Canal broadband feasibility report; study says few Canal addresses are eligible for BEAD funding
Summary
City staff presented a feasibility study of broadband in the Canal neighborhood, explaining BEAD challenge methods and a full fiber‑to‑unit design; after testing and challenge submissions, most addresses were determined ineligible for BEAD funding. Council accepted the report 4–0 and staff outlined next steps including asset mapping, pursuing scaled funding, and expanding Canal Wi‑Fi.
The San Rafael City Council on Feb. 3 accepted a final feasibility study on broadband access and digital equity in the Canal neighborhood, but staff told the council most local addresses would not qualify for the largest federal broadband grant programs after challenge and rebuttal processes.
Sean Mooney, director of digital service and open government for the city of San Rafael, introduced the report and emphasized longstanding affordability and access gaps in the Canal that became especially visible during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Din Pham, the city's digital infrastructure manager, described a multilayered approach: resident surveys and voluntary speed tests, deployment of randomized monitoring devices in homes to collect challenge‑grade data, and a fiber‑to‑the‑living‑unit…
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