South Valley Internet (SVI) and LCB Communications (LCB) have announced the receipt of two grants from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to enhance broadband Internet and telecommunications services across multiple underserved communities in San Benito County.
The first grant, detailed in CPUC Resolution T-17792, allocates over $1.7 million from the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Line Extension Programme for SVI’s broadband Fibre to the Home (FTTH) project. This funding supports the Southside Road Project in Hollister, which aims to deliver high-speed internet at symmetrical speeds of one gigabit per second (Gbps) to 194 households, benefitting 740 residents, including 130 school-aged children.
The project will serve three low-income communities: The Hollister Migrant Housing Centre, The San Benito County Farm Bureau, and The Community Services Development Corporation Southside Mobile Park. SVI will provide free broadband internet service to these residents for at least five years.
The second grant, outlined in CPUC Resolution T-17817, awards nearly $30 million to LCB Communications for constructing a broadband infrastructure network in the Aromas-San Juan area. This project will develop a hybrid middle-mile and last-mile broadband network across San Benito, Santa Cruz, and Monterey Counties, providing FTTH service to 1,038 unserved locations and fixed wireless access (FWA) to 63 unserved locations, totalling 1,101 currently underserved sites.
Upon completion, SVI/LCB will offer speeds up to 5 Gbps symmetrical for FTTH and up to 600 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload for FWA, with low-income broadband plans available for just $15 per month for five years.
“The team at SVI/LCB are thrilled to have received these grants and could not have done it without the help of Balanced Access, a non-profit organisation created to eliminate the digital divide in South Santa Clara and San Benito Counties and the aid of the Rotary Club of San Juan Bautista,” said Elise Brentnall, President and COO of South Valley Internet. “Their combined support, expertise and effort to identify and guide us through the process has and will make a huge difference for the communities we love dearly.
“SVI has been providing high speed broadband to our customers for over 30 years and now have the opportunity to make a difference to those who need it most – Helping the communities you serve is smart business. We look forward to changing the lives of those who live in more than 1,300 households throughout San Benito, NE Monterey and SE Santa Cruz Counties.”
These resolutions signify a substantial investment in broadband infrastructure for the residents of San Benito, Northeast Monterey, and Southeast Santa Cruz Counties, showcasing California’s dedication to expanding high-speed internet access to unserved communities. For SVI/LCB, this funding will facilitate the expansion of their network and service capabilities, bringing free or affordable high-speed internet to previously unserved areas.
There’s plenty of other editorial on our sister site, Electronic Specifier! Or you can always join in the conversation by commenting below or visiting our LinkedIn page.
