As a partnering organization on Friday's Digital Equity and BEAD Workshop, the Central Coast Broadband Consortium (CCBC) through the Executive Leadership of the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership team co-hosted a critical event to share our regional story and unique challenges in bridging the digital divide. We are grateful to the California Department of Technology (CDT), California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF), Santa Cruz County, Monterey County, and San Benito County teams and offices for putting on an influential and successful engagement session.

The workshop's purpose is to provide input to help California develop the state's Digital Equity and BEAD Five-Year Action Plans. Ultimately, these two programs will determine how future federal dollars are allocated to address digital inequities in our communities. Over 125 people attended Friday's Digital Equity and BEAD Workshop at California State University, Monterey Bay, including representation from all 10 of the State's Covered Populations represented across 11 Population Speakers who shared testimonies in English, Spanish, and Mixtec.

One of a series of digital equity workshops taking place across California, Friday's event was well attended by local and state representatives, with South Salinas Valley Broadband Authority (SSVBA) President and Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez, Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo and San Benito County Supervisor Angela Curro among the elected officials who spoke during the regional welcome. Table leaders and session moderators represented a variety of stakeholders, including representatives from city offices, nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, Central Coast Broadband Consortium members, representatives from local and national ISPs, and the MBEP team, demonstrating MBEP's convening efforts to bring all to the discussion.

Beyond providing attendees with the opportunity to learn more about the digital equity plan, the event enabled the public to give effective feedback to state future planning. The State is taking great care to ensure that community and stakeholder feedback is incorporated into the Broadband for All, Digital Equity, and BEAD Planning processes.

The remediated slide presentation and recommended strategies for the June 2nd workshop will be uploaded on the Broadband Portal Past Events. View a summary of the Recommended Strategies and access the presentation shared at the event.

We are grateful for the opportunity to have such a wide array of local, regional, and state partnerships to call upon in collecting public comments on digital equity barriers facing the covered populations in our communities and for the thoughtful strategies developed and recommended by our region. If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact Maure Gildea, at mgildea@mbep.biz.