Alliance Hopes To Capture Federal Money For Broadband

Sonora, CA — Central Sierra Connect, an alliance of Tuolumne, Calaveras, Amador, Mariposa and Alpine Counties to expand broadband internet capabilities, hopes to receive a chunk of the recently signed Federal Stimulus Package.

The alliance is under the direction of ATCAA, the Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency. A total $7.2 billion in federal grants will soon be available for underserved and rural areas to increase broadband infrastructure.

CSC Spokesperson Michelle Shelton told the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors Tuesday that her agency is paying close attention to the rules associated with the stimulus money, and intends to capture as many federal dollars as possible.

CSC is organizing a meeting that will be held in mid-March to make sure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to expanding broadband services across the Mother Lode area.

"We’re hoping to collect all of the broadband and telecommunications policies of the five county region, bring them together and review them as a group,” says Shelton. “Possibly we’ll create recommendations for achieving a common set of county and municipal policies and ordinances to bring broadband adoption further along.”

Written by bjhansen@mlode.com