Caltrans goes the distance on ‘middle-mile’ broadband

The $3.25 billion project’s goal is to give all Californians equitable web access 

Recognizing that broadband is essential infrastructure, California has made a historic multi-billion-dollar investment that takes a comprehensive and long-term approach to tackling the digital divide.

Signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in July 2021, Senate Bill 156 seeks to expand the state’s broadband fiber infrastructure and increase internet connectivity for families and businesses. Caltrans is playing a critical role in the effort to strengthen all Californians access to reliable and affordable broadband service through the Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative.

The department is working with the California Department of Technology (CDT), the project leader, to manage construction of “middle-mile” broadband infrastructure along state highways within rights of way. This includes conduit, fiber optic cable, junction boxes and supporting elements) within the state right-of-way.

The Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative signed by Newsom aims to build the necessary infrastructure to create 10,000 miles of an open access, high-capacity network of fiber lines that carry large amounts of data at higher speeds over longer distances throughout the state. The $3.25 billion project will connect to a “last-mile” broadband infrastructure that tie homes and businesses to local networks.

The goal of this middle-mile network is to close the "digital divide" by providing reliable access to high-speed broadband service and prioritize inclusion of unserved and underserved populations, major institutions (hospitals, universities, government entities and community nonprofits), tribal entities, and agricultural regions.

Once fully constructed, the middle-mile broadband network will serve as the backbone infrastructure for last-mile providers to bring high speed internet to as many Californians as possible.

With funding through the federal American Rescue Plan Act, the projects covering the 10,000 mile network not only need to be complete but also have all funds used by December 2026. This is an aggressive timeline and a substantial amount of work.

Caltrans is leveraging its decades of expertise in successfully delivering highway projects to meet the goals and purpose of the Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative. Given the tight timeline, Caltrans is using the innovative delivery methods – Job Order Contracting (JOC) and Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC) – to deliver the Middle-Mile Broadband Network projects.

Construction contracts for more than 70 percent of the network miles have already been advertised. This includes five regional JOC master agreements for more than 5,200 miles, 11 contracts that use the CMGC delivery method for approximately 1,900 miles, and Caltrans is working to advertise the remaining network miles this spring. Caltrans, which is partnering with the California Black Chamber of Commerce, has also advocated for small and disabled veteran businesses to ensure they are included in these opportunities.

To accomplish the Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative, Caltrans is using opportunities with this type of work to streamline its project delivery process to reduce timelines in design, permitting, and contracting, which allows much of these pre-construction processes to be completed concurrently. This is critical given the challenge of the finite deadline the federal government established for the funds.

Throughout the decades, Caltrans has been tasked with meeting a host of initiatives – SB 1, Clean California, and emergency response, among numerous others. With each initiative, Caltrans adapted and innovated to meet the unique challenge of each situation regardless of whether that entailed creating new processes and approaches or refining and streamlining existing procedures.

An online map of the 10,000 mile proposed build for the Middle-Mile Broadband Network can be found here.

Source: Caltrans Division of Design