The Santa Cruz County (CA) Board of Supervisors voted in favor of two initiatives to better meet the needs of its public. First, supervisors allocated $500,000 in grant funding to Cruzio Internet with the agreement the company would expand broadband access to underserved populations across the county — an effort that will expand Cruzio's existing Equal Access Santa Cruz County project. Equal Access is a collaboration between Cruzio and the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County that has provided fast Internet to families who need it for a maximum of $15 a month. Then, the board voted to combine the Public Works and Planning Departments with the intent to offer better, more streamlined services to residents. Together, the two divisions will form the Community Development and Infrastructure Department. The digital divide in the area has been reduced by actions such as Equal Access Santa Cruz County at the local level and Gov Gavin Newsom (D-CA)'s assignment of $6 million toward improving public broadband access in 2021 at the state level. These are record-breaking financial commitments. Though progress has been made, newly minted Information Services Department Director Tony Batalla said that there are still numerous small areas in unincorporated Santa Cruz County without sufficient Internet access. With $500,000 from the county's American Rescue Plan Act funding and a 150 percent match from Cruzio, 4,000 new households will gain high-speed access for no cost or a low cost.

AT&T largely lost an advertising dispute with Charter Communications, with a review panel recommending the operator change or discontinue claims its fiber service is better than cable. The case dates back to 2021, when Charter filed a complaint with the National Advertising Division (NAD) challenging assertions made in AT&T ads that it offers “up to 20x faster upload speeds” than cable and is “half the price.” Charter also disputed AT&T’s claims that fiber offers “better internet” than cable. In November 2021, NAD mostly sided with Charter and recommended AT&T change its ads, prompting AT&T to appeal the decision to the National Advertising Review Board (NARB). Both NAD and NARB are part of BBB National Programs, an organization which oversees self-regulation programs for the advertising industry. AT&T was dealt a blow on February 9 when NARB issued a ruling which largely upheld NAD’s findings. Specifically, NARB concluded the “20x faster upload” claim was misleading and told AT&T it should either discontinue ads using the phrasing or else clearly indicate which tier of service provides the claimed upload benefit. Specifically, NARB concluded the “20x faster upload” claim was misleading and told AT&T it should either discontinue ads using the phrasing or else clearly indicate which tier of service provides the claimed upload benefit.