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County to reallocate ARPA broadband funds after CPUC delays; three contracts proposed
Summary
Solano County staff recommended withdrawing a proposed ARPA match to AT&T because of CPUC delays and reallocating roughly $2.2 million to three contracts (Comcast fiber to Elmira, Valley Internet fixed wireless, and cal.net augmentation). The board approved the recommendation 5–0.
Solano County staff told the Board of Supervisors they are recommending reallocation of ARPA broadband funds after the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) delayed decisions on CAF/last‑mile awards. Chief Information Officer Tim Flanagan said the county had offered matching funds to an AT&T project but that continued CPUC delays risked leaving ARPA obligations unspent by the end of the calendar year. He recommended withdrawing the county's match and redirecting roughly $2.2 million to contracts the county can execute quickly: Comcast to build fiber to the Town of Elmira (up to 108 homes), Valley Internet to build fixed wireless capacity on the west side of Solano County, and cal.net to augment CAF2‑funded work and subsidize home connections.
Flanagan explained the county had done a 2022 study to map underserved and unserved areas, issued an RFI for vendors, and received a $17,000,000 notice associated with county proposals to the CPUC's last‑mile fund. He said the proposed reallocation is intended to avoid commingling ARPA funds with the CPUC matching process and allow the county to obligate ARPA funds before the calendar‑year deadline. Supervisor Brown supported moving forward and called broadband "a utility, like power and water." The board voted to proceed with staff's recommendation and authorized staff to negotiate the three contracts; the motion passed 5–0.
