Monrovia staff briefs council on broadband assessment, urges regional coordination

Monrovia city staff on May 5 presented Phase 1 of a broadband assessment and urged coordinated regional work to close remaining digital-access gaps.

Deputy Public Works Director Victoria Rocha summarized the Entrust assessment, saying Monrovia’s fiber-in-ground coverage is about 78.8%, comparable to nearby Azusa at 79.9. She said Monrovia is relatively well built out but that 27% of residents tested below California’s speed standard, and that filling those remaining pockets will require market-based strategies and regional coordination.

Rocha described technical work done for the study — an outside plant survey of poles and conduits, contractor engagement (Entrust), and a subcontracted telecom law firm to review permitting and fee policies. The staff presentation said 80% of the outside plant survey items were within compliance and recommended using Medea (a local partner) and a telecom law firm to develop standardized permitting and marketing materials that would make the regional market more attractive to providers.

Consultant Brenda Trainer (speaker 18) said the CPUC-funded technical-assistance grant allowed the team to deepen the assessment and tailor findings to Monrovia-specific conditions. Rocha and trainers stressed that being “development friendly” helps marketability for private providers but that funding and build decisions ultimately depend on provider economics.

Council members asked operational questions about conduit work, permitting and the potential for devices to improve council chambers systems; staff clarified that the assessment provides recommendations and that implementation will require funding and further negotiations with providers.

Staff said next steps include circulating more detailed maps to council and coordinating with neighboring cities (Arcadia, Duarte, Irwindale, Azusa, Glendora, Bradbury) to harmonize permitting and approach providers about filling coverage gaps.