Opinion: San Diego Shows How Highway Projects Can Be Leveraged To Close Digital Divide

San Diego CA

20 August, 2021

11:24 AM

Description

By Hasan Ikhrata and Sunne Wright McPeak, Times of San Diego August 20, 2021 Broadband and highways are common-sense companions. Recently, Caltrans, the San Diego Association of Governments, San Diego County, and the California Transportation Commission joined forces to help close the digital divide, allocating $7 million for installation of Internet fiber in conjunction with a scheduled pavement rehabilitation project along State Route 67. This action was accomplished in a mere six weeks, demonstrating how collaboration and shared purpose can make a difference in the lives of the millions of Californians who are still unconnected to the Internet. This critical need has been illuminated and intensified by the pandemic and the associated lack of access to education, jobs and health care. A recent survey sponsored by the California Emerging Technology Fund and conducted independently by the University of Southern California found that nearly 10% of the state's households—more than 3 million people—do not have high-speed Internet connectivity at home. This is sobering and unacceptable. We applaud Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature for taking strong action to include in the 2021-2022 state budget an investment of $6 billion to expand high-speed broadband infrastructure and affordable access throughout California. This is the right level of state investment to address the needs and attract matching federal funds. It also will accelerate the post-pandemic economic recovery because an investment in all infrastructure, particularly broadband, returns high dividends to economic competitiveness. Now, the question is how to ensure the public's funds will be used as effectively and efficiently as possible. California must implement an aggressive strategy that will maximize immediate impact and optimize return on investment by embracing the following key principles for action: To construct broadband on an ambitious timetable, it must be integrated with transportation projects—a "dig once, dig smart" strategy. The San Diego collaboration is the result of purposeful focus over the past few years by transportation and broadband leaders. Caltrans and the California Transportation Commission first recognized broadband as a "green strategy" to improve mobility and reduce impacts on the environment. Caltrans then worked with regional broadband consortia to identify strategic corridors where conduit for Internet fiber could be installed. SANDAG and the Southern California Association of Governments mobilized their 216 member local governments to coordinate action. Finally, SANDAG and SCAG invited Internet service providers to step up as private-sector partners in a model for the state and nation. This kind of public-sector collaboration is powerful and transforms how things get done—as taxpayers and ratepayers expect us to do and deserve for their hard-earned money. It also is the key to attracting private-sector investments and leveraging those dollars in the public interest. There is no substitute for leadership and sincere partnerships—and the combination will ensure we get our money's worth from broadband investments and achieve digital equity for all Californians. Hasan Ikhrata is Executive Director of SANDAG and Sunne Wright McPeak is President and CEO of the California Emerging Technology Fund and former Secretary of the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. Times of San Diego is an independent online news site covering the San Diego metropolitan area. Our journalists report on politics, crime, business, sports, education, arts, the military and everyday life in San Diego. No subscription is required, and you can sign up for a free daily newsletter with a summary of the latest news.