Forum Emphasizes Importance of Broadband Infrastructure

The Bay Area Council Economic Institute added to a busy week in Sacramento as it hosted a
roundtable discussion on broadband infrastructure in California. The event was part of the
Institute’s education efforts connected to its latest report, which details the often unseen
economic and social benefits of robust broadband connectivity.

Legislative staff heard from Rochelle Swanson, Government Affairs Manager for Crown Castle,
on the company’s broadband deployment strategies and the challenges faced by private
providers of broadband infrastructure. Assemblymember Juan Carrillo spoke about
opportunities the state has to streamline permitting at the local level, including AB 965 that he is
authoring to require local governments to simultaneously review multiple similar broadband
infrastructure projects under one permit application.

A recent commentary by Economic Institute Executive Director Jeff Bellisario examined how
legislation like AB 965 can help accelerate California’s wireless and digital future. AB 965, a Bay
Area Council-supported bill, passed out of committee on Wednesday (April 26).