Santa Cruz County Approves $500K Grant To Broaden Internet Access

SANTA CRUZ, CA — Santa Cruz County will use a $500,000 grant from the American Rescue Plan to install 20 new antennae throughout the county, in a move to improve broadband signal for 4,000 rural residents by the end of 2022.

Santa Cruz-based internet provider Cruzio Internet will match 150% of those funds, resulting in a total of $1,250,000 available to improve internet connections, according to county spokesperson Jason Hoppin.

The move will more than double available funding toward available broadband access, according to a Lookout Santa Cruz report.

Cruzio and Community Foundation Santa Cruz County already partner together on Cruzio’s Equal Access Santa Cruz Program, which provides internet access to affordable housing development and lower-income neighbors around the county for $15 a month. More than 700 students have gotten high-speed internet from the Equal Access program, Hoppin told The Pajaronian.

The extra access is especially critical as more and more programs go virtual due to the pandemic.
“Without reliable access to internet, kids fall behind, workforce opportunities are lost,” Third District Supervisor Ryan Coonerty said during a Tuesday meeting. “Particularly in South County that’s a critical issue, and providing access-affordable, accessible high-speed internet is critical for low-income families.”

County officials are evaluating 34 sites around the county for rooftop antennas, though it is not yet clear where they will be placed.

The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday to approve the grant. 4th District Supervisor Greg Caput dissented, saying he was concerned about possible health side effects of wireless signals. The Food and Drug Administration has said there is no proof signals cause negative health effects.