About

Executive Order S-23-06, Twenty-First Century Government: Expanding Broadband Access and Usage in California, took actions to increase broadband availability in California by streamlining the State of California permitting procedures and improving coordination with and among broadband providers. The Broadband Initiative has led the following activities:

Fiber Collaboration Database: With the input received during stakeholder meetings, the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has developed a database that allows broadband providers to view upcoming construction projects. Providers are now able to efficiently notify Caltrans so that they canto become included in construction the projects. This notification system will allow more broadband infrastructure to be placed throughout the state during the construction phase, decreasing both broadband system construction costs and public disturbance to the Right-of-Way (ROW).

The database also facilitates communication between providers that share an interest in trenching to a specific location. While competitive interests may prevent providers from joint trenching to a final destination, a number of providers have expressed interest in reducing costs by sharing trenching costs for some piece of a project. The database is available at: www.dot.ca.gov/broadband.

Uniform Application: Before Executive Order S-23-06, the first step used to obtain a broadband permit varied widely among state agencies. To standardize the application process, the Cabinet-Level Working Group and other officials from these state agencies have developed a single application form for broadband projects. This application will now be accepted by all state agencies (link).

Regulations: To meet the requirements of Executive Order S-23-06 Caltrans is in the process of issuing draft regulations for broadband permitting in its Right-of-Ways. Once these are adopted, Caltrans will be able to significantly decrease the amount of time required to review and approve or deny applications. These new processes will also allow Caltrans to institute a dispute resolution process that will increase the transparency of the appeal process and decrease the time required to evaluate appeals.

Right-of-Ways Fees: Executive Order S-23-06 abolished the lease-type fee paid by broadband providers for fiber located along Caltrans’ controlled-access highways (which had been temporarily suspended by Caltrans in August 2006). Caltrans continues to charge for permit review, issuance and inspections on a "cost-recovery" basis.