SBCAG gets update on regional broadband progress, Cuyama outreach and funding opportunities

Vice Chair David Silva convened the board as SBCAG staff and the Broadband Consortium Pacific Coast outlined progress on regional broadband planning and funding.

The presentation from SBCAG’s Fred Luna and Shelby Arthur of the Broadband Consortium Pacific Coast revisited the 2022 broadband strategic plan, described two middle‑mile routes entering Santa Barbara County (California Department of Technology/Lumen and the Central Valley Integrated Network) and summarized local planning and environmental work that has prepared priority areas for last‑mile deployment. "We were able to obtain $1,000,000 in grant funding and complete the planning tasks identified in the strategic plan," Fred Luna said.

Shelby Arthur described state and federal grant activity that could fund last‑mile work. She told the board that the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) infrastructure grant cycle closed with at least one application covering areas east of State Route 154 and that results could arrive in May. At the federal level she said California’s BEAD proposal (submitted in December 2025) named three internet service providers to serve portions of Santa Barbara County but has not yet received NTIA approval. "We don't know the timeline of approval," Arthur said.

Arthur also reported a $4,700,000 federal award to the Chumash Tribe to build last‑mile connections on the reservation and nearby Camp 4 development. She said the tribal project targets roughly 400 locations and about 853 residents and is positioning those locations to connect when middle‑mile infrastructure arrives later this calendar year. "They're already ahead of the middle mile and making sure they're ready to connect," she said.

Board members pressed staff about how CPUC and FCC mapping mark locations as "served." Arthur and Luna explained that CPUC eligibility often relies on ISP self‑reported data to the FCC and that the only practical way to challenge a designation is by submitting verified speed tests from affected addresses. "It is possible to challenge the data, but you need actual speed tests from the locations that are taken and submitted to the FCC or to CPUC," Arthur said.

Arthur described targeted outreach in the Cuyama Valley where a Blue Sky Center‑led, AmeriCorps door‑to‑door survey has so far produced 75 responses (the outreach team is targeting ~240 total responses across Cuyama and New Cuyama). Those speed tests and surveys are intended to validate residents’ experience so locations marked as "served" by provider reports can be challenged and made eligible for subsidized deployment. Arthur said the Santa Barbara Foundation has agreed to match funds to continue that survey work.

The presentation also summarized award maps from state/federal programs: Arthur said a northern pocket of the county was shown as awarded to Comcast (with a low‑cost plan listed at $30/month), larger swaths were awarded for satellite service (listed at $80/month for SpaceX in the BEAD/award mapping), and a small site near Goleta/Santa Barbara was listed to Amazon Kuiper. Arthur cautioned the board that the award maps and low‑cost plan prices come from the BEAD/award listings and remain subject to change and federal approval.

Arthur closed with next steps: CASF results expected in May, consortium renewal funding decisions expected by June, and a Digital Equity Coalition summit planned April 30 at the Goleta Community Center, where updated county‑level digital‑divide data will be presented. She said SBCAG staff will continue working with partners to pursue unallocated federal block funds and state opportunities for planning and implementation.

The item was informational; no board action was required.