By now some of you may have heard the good news about the Central Valley Next Generation Broadband Infrastructure Project (CVNGBIP) being awarded $46.6 million in stimulus funding by the federal government through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), NTIA.

The 18 counties targeted for broadband infrastructure through CVNGBIP are Amador, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Fresno, Kings, Kern, Mariposa, Merced, Madera, Nevada, Placer, Tuolumne, Tulare, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter, and Yuba.

This project was designed and developed by the private-public partnership of CVIN, LLC (the Central Valley Independent Network) and CENIC (the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California), a non-profit corporation. We believe that the widespread support from various groups and constituencies in these counties helped make the case for this funding.

We thank you for that support and hope it will continue to grow as we prepare to launch actual implementation.

You will remember the total project costs are projected at $66.6 million. In addition to the NTIA grant, equal to 70% of the costs, the affiliated members of CVIN, LLC have committed $13.2 million in cash for a 20% match. We are now awaiting favorable action by the California Public Utilities Commission to provide a 10% match, or $6.6 million from the CASF. We are hopeful for positive action soon so we can officially start the implementation phase.

Very early on, we will be returning to each county to involve folks in final input as part of locking down our design.

Just as a reminder, the Central Valley Next Generation Broadband Infrastructure Project involves building, operating, and maintaining a fiber-optic network infrastructure that will traverse 1,371 miles of California's Central Valley in addition to last-mile wireless capability over parts of four counties (Fresno, Kern, Kings, and Tulare). Initially, the CVNGBIP will focus on connecting community anchor institutions via fiber, including 19 county offices of education sites, 14 community college sites, 3 California State University campuses, 20 county/main libraries, and 7 public safety sites. The full list of these anchor institutions is given below. Once connected, these non-profit anchor institutions will be supported by CENIC and become an integral part of CENIC's statewide CalREN network, a nearly 3,000-mile fiber-optic-based advanced network that has been serving California's K-20 public research and education institutions since 1997, and one of the most advanced networks of its kind in the world.

CVIN will utilize the new infrastructure for commercial purposes enabling businesses, residences, and county, local, state, and federal government agencies located in the listed counties to purchase a full range of telecommunications services. These services will be offered by CVIN directly, or by CVIN Affiliates and other local telecommunications providers with whom CVIN has strategic relationships.

The partner organizations together share an immense amount of expertise in the deployment and operation of advanced communications and network services throughout California. CVIN, LLC is a joint enterprise comprised of affiliates of eight Independent Telephone Companies located in central and northern California. These companies cover over 7,000 square miles and operate more than 1,700 miles of fiber and have vast experience in providing broadband services. Many of these companies are over 100 years old. On behalf of nearly all of California's K-20 research and education community, CENIC currently owns and operates the California Research & Education Network (CalREN), an ultra-high-performance fiber-optic network infrastructure consisting of nearly 3,000 miles of CENIC-owned fiber extending from the Mexican border to Corning and San Diego into Arizona which is the largest and most robust statewide optical network for education in the nation reach nearly 10 million K-20 students, faculty, and staff.

Further information about the Central Valley Next Generation Broadband Infrastructure Project can be found at http://www.cvngbip.org/.

K-12 anchor institutions: 19 K-12 Offices serving over 988,000 students: one for each county, plus a second hub in Tulare

• Amador
• Calaveras
• Colusa
• El Dorado
• Fresno
• King
• Kern
• Mariposa
• Merced
• Madera
• Nevada
• Placer
• Tuolumne
• Tulare
• Tulare Earlimart COE Hub
• San Joaquin
• Stanislaus
• Sutter
• Yuba

Community College anchor institutions: 14 Community College Districts and Colleges serving approx. 200,000 students:

• Bakersfield College (part of Kern Community College District)
• College of the Sequoias
• Columbia College
• Fresno City College (part of State Center Community College District)
• Kern Community College District
• Merced College
• Modesto Junior College (part of Yosemite Community College District)
• Porterville College
• Reedley College
• San Joaquin Delta College
• State Center Community College District
• West Hills College Lemoore
• Yosemite Community College District
• Yuba Community College District and College

California State University anchor institutions: 3 CSUs serving 30,500 students:

• CSU Bakersfield
• CSU Fresno
• CSU Stanislaus

County/Main Libraries anchor institutions:

• San Joaquin Valley Library System:
  • Fresno County Public Library
  • Kern County Library
  • Kings County Library
  • Madera County Library
  • Mariposa County Library
  • Merced County Library
  • Porterville Public Library
  • Tulare County Free Library
  • Tulare Public Library
• Mountain Valley Library System:
  • Colusa County Free Library
  • El Dorado County Library
  • Nevada County Library
  • Placer County Library
  • Sutter County Library
  • Yuba County Library
• Amador County Library
• Calaveras County Library
• Stanislaus County Free Library
• Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library
• Tuolumne County Library

Public Safety anchor institutions:

• Fresno Op Area
• Kern Op Area
• Kings Op Area
• Madera Op Area
• Merced Op Area
• Tulare Op Area
• Mariposa Op Area

CVIN is accepting pre-bid qualification packages for contractors. For more information please send a request to info@cvin.com.