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San Leandro Commercial Broadband Strategy 11. Potential Funding Sources Although the end of redevelopment agencies in California eliminated an important source of financing for economic development and infrastructure, other federal and state programs offer an opportunity for local agencies to partner with service providers and facilitate access to funds. Some of these programs might provide financial assistance to service providers that want to build facilities to reach under and unserved commercial areas of San Leandro. 1. Federal economic development programs. The federal Department of Commerce, through the Economic Development Administration, will partially fund public works projects used for economic development purposes. Broadband projects are theoretically eligible for this funding, and it is ideally suited to funding lateral extensions to under and unserved commercial and industrial areas. As noted above, the City is already pursuing this funding. 2. California Advanced Services Fund. The California Legislature has renewed this program and provided the California Public Utilities Commission with an additional $125 million to use in extending broadband service to underserved and unserved areas of the state. Although this program is more commonly thought of in connection with rural areas, it does not preclude urban infill projects. CASF funding is available to telecommunications companies that meet certain requirements for projects in geographical areas that lack defined levels of broadband service. The City can assist companies in applying for this funding by providing and validating information regarding unserved areas, including those areas identified in this study. 4. Educational broadband programs. The federal E -rate program provides subsidies to schools and libraries, including funds to upgrade services under certain circumstances. The Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC) funds, builds and manages educational broadband networks in California, including high capacity networks for higher education. Generally, the specific resources funded through these sorts of programs are restricted to use only by qualified schools, libraries and research institutions, but in many cases those specific resources can be purchased from or be made part of a larger project. When lateral construction and other network extensions are planned in San Leandro, consideration should be given to opportunities to link to eligible schools and libraries that might be able to contribute such funds. 5. Telemedicine programs. As with educational broadband programs, federal and state agencies provide funding for broadband resources that support telemedicine programs. For example, the California Telehealth Network, based at U.C. Davis, receives federal funding to provide network services to, primarily, rural health care facilities. Typically, 16 July 2012 TellusVenture Associates Page 38