UCR report urges broadband to be a state utility – University of California, Riverside

Report on Regulating Broadband Internet Providers in California to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

A recent public policy report from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) advocates for regulating broadband internet providers in California as public utilities. The report emphasizes implementing rate controls, universal access requirements, and reliability standards to ensure affordable, high-speed internet access for all residents. This initiative aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Background and Current Challenges

1. Broadband as an Essential Service: Edward Helderop, associate director of UCR’s Center for Geospatial Sciences, states that broadband internet access is as critical as electricity or water in American households.
2. Digital Divide: Approximately 15% of California households lack broadband access, predominantly in low-income urban neighborhoods and rural and tribal communities. This gap hinders employment and educational opportunities, exacerbating inequalities (SDG 10).
3. Impact of COVID-19: The pandemic highlighted the digital divide, with students in low-income families struggling to attend online classes, illustrating the urgent need for universal broadband access.
4. Affordability and Availability Issues:
   • Urban areas generally have broadband availability, but affordability remains a barrier with median monthly costs between $70 and $80.
   • Rural and tribal areas often lack broadband infrastructure due to low financial incentives for telecom companies.

Market Failures and Regulatory Gaps

• Market failures and weak oversight of federal grant programs have contributed to persistent broadband scarcity in California.
• Telecommunications companies avoid investing in less profitable regions and use political influence to block competition, maintaining high prices and limited consumer choice.

State Initiatives and Recommendations

1. Senate Bill 156: Signed in 2021, this $6 billion initiative represents the largest state broadband investment in U.S. history, funding:
   • A state-owned “middle-mile” fiber network exceeding 8,000 miles to serve as a backbone.
   • $2 billion for last-mile connections in communities.
   • $750 million to support municipal broadband cooperatives.
2. Utility-Style Regulation: The report recommends regulating broadband providers like public utilities to ensure universal service and affordability.
3. Open-Access Backbone: Completing the middle-mile network would enable new providers, including smaller and community-based entities, to compete without massive infrastructure costs, fostering innovation and infrastructure development (SDG 9).
4. Broadband Data Transparency: Mandatory disclosure of actual end-user speeds, pricing tiers, reliability metrics, and coverage areas would empower consumers and aid policymakers in targeting subsidies effectively.
5. Municipal Broadband Cooperatives: Encouraging local cooperatives connected to the state-owned backbone would retain telecommunications revenue within communities and enhance accountability, supporting sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11).

Conclusion

The report, titled “Abundant Home Broadband for All Californians: A Pathway to Digital Prosperity,” concludes that broadband scarcity in California is not inevitable. With existing technology capable of connecting every home and business, the primary challenge is political will and establishing a regulatory framework prioritizing universal service over profit. Achieving broadband abundance will contribute significantly to reducing inequalities (SDG 10), promoting inclusive infrastructure (SDG 9), and fostering sustainable communities (SDG 11).

Additional Information

This report is part of the Abundance Policy Report Series produced by the UC Berkeley Possibility Lab’s Abundance Accelerator and was published by the nonprofit state policy news outlet Cal Matters and UC Berkeley’s Possibility Lab.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Focus on building resilient infrastructure and promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, which includes broadband infrastructure development.
2. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities, linked to access to broadband for online education.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Reducing inequalities within and among countries, relevant to addressing the digital divide affecting low-income, rural, and tribal communities.
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, including ensuring access to affordable and reliable internet services.
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing global partnerships, relevant to government and community cooperation in broadband expansion.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 9 Targets
   • 9.c: Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020. (Implied for California’s context)
   • 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure.
2. SDG 4 Targets
   • 4.3: Ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.
   • 4.4: Increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills for employment and entrepreneurship, which depends on digital access.
3. SDG 10 Targets
   • 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
4. SDG 11 Targets
   • 11.1: Ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services, including digital connectivity.
5. SDG 17 Targets
   • 17.6: Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation.
   • 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Broadband Access and Availability
   • Percentage of households with broadband internet access (article states about 15% lack access).
   • Availability of broadband in rural, urban, and tribal communities.
2. Affordability Metrics
   • Median monthly cost of broadband service ($70-$80 mentioned).
   • Household affordability and prioritization of broadband over other bills.
3. Service Quality and Transparency
   • Actual end-user internet speeds versus advertised speeds (data transparency requirement).
   • Reliability metrics and service coverage areas.
4. Infrastructure Development
   • Miles of state-owned “middle-mile” fiber network constructed (projected to exceed 8,000 miles).
   • Number of last-mile connections funded and municipal broadband cooperatives supported.
5. Digital Inclusion Impact
   • Reduction in digital divide indicators such as access disparities in low-income, rural, and tribal areas.
   • Educational and employment opportunities linked to broadband access.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: news.ucr.edu