California Emerging Technology Fund

CETF completed and met all CETF T-Mobile MOU performance obligations. CETF awarded 35 Local Government Best Practices Check List Grants. The Jurisdiction project engaged and facilitated interdisciplinary collaboration in 3 required Learning Communities, and CETF also conducted 2 optional webinars to encourage and support Jurisdictions to submit CPUC CASF Grant Applications. 29 Action Plans were submitted by 35 Local Governments to distribute information about affordable Internet offers and Digital Literacy Training. 32 Final Reports have been compiled to date, and a Project Summary will be prepared for publication and circulation. Participants reported that the Project has been instrumental in shaping their understanding of what Local Governments can do to accelerate Deployment and Adoption. CETF awarded 55 Digital Equity Leadership Grants. The Leadership Grants awarded to date included a spectrum of organizations: RBCs; MPOs (including permit streamlining); San Joaquin Valley Network Request for Qualifications for Prospective Partnerships (RFQPP) process; NextGen Policy (grassroots engagement for Digital Equity and BEAD planning and ACP enrollment); and the California State Association of Counties.

On December 31, 2024 CETF and >51 Partners were awarded a Competitive Grant ($12M total with $1M net to CETF) by the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The CETF award was 1 of 24 across the nation and the only California-based recipient announced by NTIA in the first round of Competitive Grants, which speaks to the extent of inclusive collaboration forged by application and the quality of the NTIA proposal. The award was terminated on May 20, 2025 by NTIA, so CETF focused on a Pivot to the Future. CETF immediately informed Partners and prospective California Department of Technology (CDT) CalDEP Applications Collaborators regarding the NITA termination of the awarded Competitive Grant and the State Capacity Grant. CETF regrouped with Partners, and on behalf of the Partners, submitted a Get Connected! California Partnership (GCCP) Grant Application to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for a California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Adoption Account. The purpose of this Grant is to build capacity among 46 Partners to accelerate Broadband Adoption by 15,0000 low-income households (HHs). The Partners include: 33 community-based organizations (CBOs); 12 Regional Broadband Consortia (RBC); and 1 Metropolitan Planning Organization (Southern California Council of Governments (SCAG) representing 6 Counties and 191 Cities). The RBCs and SCAG in turn will be working with 35 Local Governments to support implementation of Action Plans they have developed to notify residents about available affordable Internet service offers and Digital Literacy Training.