California’s Middle Mile Network Must Bridge the Digital Divide, Not Reinforce It

When California unanimously passed S.B. 156 in 2021, we embarked on a multi-year, multi-billion dollar endeavor to bring affordable, 21st-century fiber to every Californian. Done correctly, this nearly $7 billion investment—further supplemented by $ 1.8 billion in federal funding—would help eliminate the digital divide in California. We are on the verge of squandering this once-in-a-generation opportunity.

Last month, without public input or notice, the California Department of Technology changed its map outlining which communities get "middle mile" infrastructure, which …