Santa Cruz County, California, Works to Bridge the Digital Divide

The Santa Cruz County (CA) Board of Supervisors voted in favor of two initiatives to better meet the needs of its public. First, supervisors allocated $500,000 in grant funding to Cruzio Internet with the agreement the company would expand broadband access to underserved populations across the county — an effort that will expand Cruzio's existing Equal Access Santa Cruz County project. Equal Access is a collaboration between Cruzio and the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County that has provided fast Internet to families who need it for a maximum of $15 a month. Then, the board voted to combine the Public Works and Planning Departments with the intent to offer better, more streamlined services to residents. Together, the two divisions will form the Community Development and Infrastructure Department. The digital divide in the area has been reduced by actions such as Equal Access Santa Cruz County at the local level and Gov Gavin Newsom (D-CA)'s assignment of $6 million toward improving public broadband access in 2021 at the state level. These are record-breaking financial commitments. Though progress has been made, newly minted Information Services Department Director Tony Batalla said that there are still numerous small areas in unincorporated Santa Cruz County without sufficient Internet access. With $500,000 from the county's American Rescue Plan Act funding and a 150 percent match from Cruzio, 4,000 new households will gain high-speed access for no cost or a low cost.