Can Open Access Solve California's Rural Broadband Dilemma?

One could be forgiven for assuming that California, a state famous for technology, would have better connectivity for even its rural residents. But many of the state's counties have profound broadband challenges, including the classic example of big telecommunications companies not investing in infrastructure in more remote areas due to a lack of a compelling business case. This is part of the reason why the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), an organization that represents 38 of the state's 58 counties, has chosen the open access municipal broadband model as the most viable solution to the high-speed Internet problems faced by its member counties. And the rural counties won't have to implement the open access network idea by themselves, thanks to a new partnership between RCRC affiliate Golden State Connect Authority and Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency (UTOPIA) Fiber. To date, UTOPIA has done about $450 million worth of fiber projects. All together, UTOPIA's networks are approaching 50,000 subscribers. One of the most notable things about UTOPIA's success is its lack of traditional broadband funding — notwithstanding that the organization isn't opposed to California tapping into such funds where appropriate.