PRESS RELEASE: CPUC Awards Oakland $15M Broadband Infrastructure Grant to Expand High-Speed Internet Access in East and West Oakland
The project will expand access to affordable, high-speed internet
to over 110,000 residents in the county’s most disconnected communities
San Francisco, CA — The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted unanimously to fund Oakland Connect—the City of Oakland’s $15 million grant proposal to expand access to reliable, high-speed internet in East and West Oakland. The project was one of the first five projects funded from nearly 500 applications submitted for the State’s once-in-a-generation $2 billion Federal Funding Account Last Mile grant opportunity intended to expand internet access across the State.
Voting in favor of the grant resolution, CPUC Commissioner John Reynolds shared, “A quarter century into the broadband era, we have communities that are a short walk or a short drive from the development of some of the world’s most advanced technologies who are on the wrong side of the digital divide. I’m really excited to hear that we have these projects before us today to help continue bridging that digital divide here in our backyard...” This sentiment was echoed by all Commissioners (1:48:50 - 1:57:50).
The City of Oakland’s project, Oakland Connect - Last Mile Connectivity for Oaklanders, enables the City to partner with internet service providers to offer affordable, gigabit-speed internet plans to underserved residents. The proposed public-private partnership will provide service to many of the least connected and most historically disadvantaged neighborhoods in urban Alameda County, including publicly assisted affordable housing in West Oakland, Downtown, Fruitvale, and East Oakland, of which 79% are low-income areas that bear the brunt of the digital divide.
The vote to approve the application represents the culmination of over two years of leadership from the City and advocacy from Oakland’s cross-sector digital equity coalition #Oakland Undivided to improve internet availability and performance in West Oakland, Fruitvale, and East Oakland. Launched in 2020, #OaklandUndivided consists of a coalition of trusted anchor institutions, over 20 community-based organizations, as well as civic and community leaders throughout Oakland with funding partners Amazon, Gilead, and PG&E.
In total, the Oakland Connect project will benefit a population of over 110,000 people, including nearly 3,500 Oaklanders currently designated unserved by the CPUC. The municipally affiliated network will also improve fiber connectivity to community anchor institutions, improving public safety and other essential services.
Tony Batalla, the city's Chief Technology Officer, explained, "I am extremely proud of the team that worked on this and want to thank the CPUC for selecting our project and providing this opportunity to invest in the most underserved communities in East and West Oakland."
Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) will be a critical partner in the Oakland Connect project. Last summer, OHA announced the launch of a free internet initiative at the Authority’s four largest housing communities, and the Oakland Connect project will complement the expansion of high-speed internet access at subsidized housing complexes. OHA’s Executive Director Patricia Wells explained, “Internet access is foundational to engage in daily life activities and thrive in today’s world, thus essential as a gateway to socioeconomic mobility – our children cannot thrive academically without it, adults require it for employment, and it is imperative for our elders to stay connected. This is a matter of information equity: all individuals, regardless of income, deserve access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet, identical to other essential utility services like water and electricity. OHA, as a component of our own efforts to ensure reliable Wi-Fi for the families we serve, stands ready to partner with the City to leverage this infrastructure to expand access throughout our vibrant and diverse communities.”
Application support letters were submitted by Senator Nancy Skinner,Assemblymember Mia Bonta, County Supervisor Nate Miley, and County Superintendent Alysse Castro. A community support letter signed by more than 25 individuals was also submitted, including Oakland City Councilmembers Dan Kalb (D1), Carroll Fife (D3), Noel Gallo (D5), Treva Reid (D7), and School Board President Sam Davis.
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About #OaklandUndivided
#OaklandUndivided (#OU) is an equity-based, collective impact initiative launched in May 2020 to harness the people's power to solve one of modern society’s most persistent structural inequities - the digital divide. #OaklandUndivided consists of a coalition of our founding partners, including the City of Oakland and Oakland Unified School District, trusted anchor institutions, over 20 community-based organizations, as well as elected and appointed officials and community leaders throughout Oakland. At #OaklandUndivided, we believe in taking a comprehensive approach to digital equity that addresses the structural inequities that undergird the divide. We believe digital equity impacts virtually every sector and intersection of society: Education, Healthcare, Workforce (employment), and Economic Development.
