Report Prepared by: Jeff Bennyhoff, Director of Information Technology
Title
SUBJECT: Review and Discuss Broadband for Unserved and Underserved Residents and Grant Funding Opportunities
REPORT IN BRIEF
Review and discuss broadband for unserved and underserved residents and grant funding opportunities.
RECOMMENDATION
Information only and possible Staff direction on revisions and/or next steps.
Body
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in 2023-2024 Council Goals and Priorities ? Merced Unity Projects "G".
DISCUSSION
In December of 2021, Council approved the use of ARPA funds for the expansion of broadband services to unserved and underserved residents.
In May 2022, Council approved a memorandum of understanding with the County of Merced to fund a prorated share for a countywide broadband strategic plan. The City contributed $69,030 of ARPA funds for the study. The County entered into a contract with Magellan Advisors for services to craft the broadband Strategic plan. Magellan Advisors performed outreach via a survey and listening sessions targeting schools, public safety, small business, transportation and utilities, health and wellness, land use and real estate development. The study concluded that approximately 97 percent of residents of the City of Merced have access to broadband services using a blend of public and private data available to Magellan Advisors.
At the conclusion of the study it was apparent there were a large number of broadband grant opportunities on the horizon and the best use of ARPA funds would be to use the funds as match of capital in future grant opportunities.
The first grant opportunity the City could consider was the LATA (Local Agencies Technical Assistant) Grant. The City of Merced wrote a letter of support for the County of Merced grant application in September 2022. The County was awarded a $500,000 LATA grant. The funds for the County LATA grant can be used for environmental studies, engineering's studies, Bro...
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