South Lake Tahoe, California, focuses on broadband for all

As the city of South Lake Tahoe (CA) grows and tries to develop new economies, officials are focusing on improving broadband access for all the residents and businesses. The Centers for Disease Control classified access to broadband as one of their social determinants to health, which are “conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play that affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes.” The City is no different in recognizing the importance of broadband. Before the city can provide broadband to all, it must take stock of what it currently has. The American Rescue Plan Act provided $400,000 to be used for broadband and the council approved $200,000 of that to be used for a feasibility study. The feasibility study will consist of a speed test followed by an assessment of what needs to be done next. It will also include public outreach, as well as outreach to internet service providers (ISPs) to find the fastest speeds at the lowest costs. The City contracts with private ISPs, such as Spectrum and AT&T, which all provide their own conduit system consisting of underground cables, overhead cables and wi-fi. The study will look at those providers and decide if the city is getting the best possible service.