Media Advisory

TOMORROW: Newsom Administration Officials Break Ground in San Diego County on 10,000-Mile Network to Bring Broadband service to all Californians

POWAY, Calif. (October 12, 2022)

WHAT:
In July 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 156 to create an open-access middle-mile network to bring equitable high-speed broadband service to all Californians. SB 156 provides $3.25 billion to build the necessary infrastructure to bring internet connectivity to homes, businesses and community institutions. The design and construction of the middle-mile network is monitored by the Middle-Mile Advisory Committee (MMAC).

WHO:
Antonio Villaraigosa, Governor Newsom’s Infrastructure Advisor and the former Mayor of Los Angeles-(Spanish/English)
Amy Tong, Secretary of the California Government Operations Agency
Toks Omishakin, Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency
Liana Bailey-Crimmins, State CIO and Director of the California Department of Technology
Tony Tavares, Director of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
Catherine Blakespear, Chair of the San Diego Association of Governments
Teresa Valenzuela, Community Outreach Manager of San Diego Futures Foundation
Azahalia Valdez, Program Director for Digital Literacy, San Diego Futures Foundation (Spanish)
Construction Crews installing the first Middle-Mile network fiber into conduit in the ground

WHEN:
Thursday, October 13 at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE:
San Diego County
SR 67 and Poway Rd, Poway, CA (32°58’42.2″N 116°58’22.6″W)

VISUALS and SOUND:

Equipment will be turned on to install the first 500-foot length of fiber optic cable of the new 10,000-mile, statewide Middle-Mile network
Blowing machine and construction equipment
Spools of fiber and conduit
Individuals from the community speaking to their need for high-speed internet and how it will change their lives
State and local officials speaking about the scale and impact of the $6 billion project, funded in part by the federal American Rescue Plan Act

Press Conference October 13^thCoordinates: 32°58’42.2″N 116°58’22.6″W

4 miles east of Poway, California
– Intersection: Poway Rd and 67

Base of the Iron Mountain Trailhead Hike
– Red area is site of press conference