However, the CPUC’s current plan will not provide “internet for all” in California. At best, the plan will only result in internet for some.

With the available state and federal funds described as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity, achieving this goal is vital. In California alone, at least 461,481 locations — mostly families — lack adequate internet. That’s approximately 1.5 million Californians relying on our policymakers to get this right.

To meet or exceed the FCC’s definition of reliable broadband service, both Congress and the state Legislature have underscored a “standards-based, technology-agnostic” delivery approach, whether it’s done via fiber, fixed wireless or satellite technology. Unfortunately, the commission’s current plan abandons this tech-neutral direction in favor of a fiber-only approach.

To be clear, fiber is an excellent way to deliver broadband. The challenge is that it can be prohibitively expensive and take many years to deploy. With limited time and finite finances to reach all Californians, taking the right approach is critical.

Among other non-fiber solutions, the latest in fixed-wireless access technology deserves consideration. It delivers broadband wirelessly — without extensive labor or trenching — and is often used to fill coverage gaps where fiber is too costly or time-consuming to deploy.

Traditional fixed-wireless often misses the mark on service speed and reliability because legacy versions use either a mobile network or indoor Wi-Fi, neither of which were designed to deliver the amount of bandwidth consumed by homes or businesses. They also struggle to operate at great distances.

Next-generation fixed wireless access is a newer and proven technology that was designed to deliver residential broadband. It has unprecedented capacity to provide reliable, fiber-class service at mass-scale, and is less affected by physical obstructions, inclement weather and radio interference. It’s able to deliver vital wireless broadband in areas where fiber is impractical or downright impossible.

The CPUC’s narrow view of fixed wireless technology will lead to excessive costs, add years to deployment timelines and leave scores of Californians without reliable broadband. The commission may need a massive infusion of future funds to finish the job — even when this windfall is clearly labeled as “once-in-a-lifetime.” That’s simply not a sound strategy.

With new technology rewriting what is possible with broadband access, California should be able to expand reliable broadband service to every unserved and underserved household, and meet the national program’s stated goal of 100% coverage. Leveraging every possible solution where they are most optimal is the only way we will provide internet for all in California.

It’s not too late to change course. California families are depending on it.

Carl Guardino is the vice president of government affairs and public policy at Tarana Wireless. He wrote this commentary for CalMatters.

Like water and electricity, home broadband is essential.  Reliable internet impacts our ability to access telehealth, education, jobs, public safety and emergency services.

With state and federal funds described as “once-in-a-lifetime” to finally bridge the digital divide, we have the opportunity to meet the moment and achieve this vital goal.  In California alone, 996,302 locations — primarily families — are depending on our policymakers to get this right.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) appropriately insists that reliable home broadband deliver 100 megabits per second (Mbps) “download” and 20 Mbps “upload.”  To meet (or exceed!) that 100/20 Mbps broadband standard, both the U.S. Congress and our state Legislature underscore a “standards-based” approach, whether it’s done via fiber, fixed wireless or satellite.

Three key realities are critical for success:

1) Technology advances.

At Tarana Wireless, a next-generation fixed wireless access company headquartered in Silicon Valley, we believe that fiber is the “gold standard.”  The challenge, of course, is that in many suburban, rural, and tribal communities, it can be incredibly expensive and timely to construct the required infrastructure.  In some cases, another tool in the toolkit is required.

Overcoming the limitations of traditional fixed wireless, Tarana’s technology achieves reliable “non-line-of-sight” connectivity, delivering reliable signals despite obstructions like buildings, trees or bad weather.  Next generation fixed wireless access is another great broadband tool that meets, and greatly exceeds, the FCC’s “100/20” standard with up to 800 Mbps — soon 1 Gbps and beyond — with the fast and cost-efficient deployment enabled by fixed wireless.

2) Finances are finite.

Kudos to President Biden, Congress, Gov. Newsom and the California Legislature for making once-in-a-lifetime investments to finally bridge the digital divide in a timely fashion.  They have allocated billions of dollars, with the specific goal to serve “100% of unserved and underserved families.”  However, if California pursues a technology-specific approach over a standards-based approach, we will still be billions of dollars short and leave hundreds of thousands of California families on the wrong side of the digital divide.  This will be especially true in suburban, rural, and tribal communities — and even families along “stranded streets” in our urban areas.  Luckily, this is easily solved by using the appropriate tool for each job through a standards-based approach.

3) Timely deployment matters.

Another key challenge to fiber broadband is the time it takes to deploy.  For example, my son Jake just started first grade.  If we lived in a rural community, Jake could easily be in fifth to seventh grade before fiber was brought to our home (assuming funding hadn’t already run out), permanently losing another generation of students to the digital divide.

Currently, the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is considering how to meet the mandates set by Congress and California lawmakers to ensure affordable, reliable, high-speed home broadband for every Californian.  Their decision will determine the fate of nearly 1 million unserved and underserved locations throughout our state.  For households, averaging three people per home, that’s as many as 3 million Californians.  We cannot afford to fail.  Fortunately, success is within reach with a standards-based approach — which leaves no California family behind. So, here’s your “home broadband homework;” Contact the PUC.  Engage.

Carl Guardino is vice president for global government affairs and policy for Tarana Wireless. He also serves as vice chair of the California Transportation Commission.

In the summer of 1977, you pulled together 33 valley visionaries to advance the future of our region, partially in response to the energy crisis gripping our nation and crippling California.  While fierce competitors in the marketplace, you all knew you could be effective collaborators in the community space.  Through your guidance, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group was born.

For the past 24 years, it’s been my honor to serve as CEO.  I’ve learned much from your legacy, yet there are three key lessons you taught that I will long cherish:

• “Be engaged, rather than enraged.”  Early on, your actions inspired CEOs about their role in the community; “Our job, as CEOs, is not to sit on the sidelines and cheer or jeer.  Our job is to get in the game and move the ball forward.”  Playing defense is important, often essential, but you place points on the board by playing offense.  During my 23-year tenure, “playing offense” has included the establishment of our Housing Trust Silicon Valley, in the midst of the dotcom bust. Undaunted, employers stepped forward with seed funding of $20 million in private contributions.  Today, more than $300 million in contributions has leveraged $3 billion in development, assisting 30,000 families to secure a safe, affordable place to live in our high-cost Valley.  Instead of whining about the housing problem, we looked for winning solutions to benefit families throughout our region.

• “Build Bridges to Build Stronger Communities.”  Earlier this week, I enjoyed an hour-long, “socially distanced” run with my friend Ben Field, CEO of the South Bay Labor Council.  We discussed ways in which we can continue to partner, and reminisced about past successes: Transportation ballot measures that have led to the opening of BART in Silicon Valley and improvements to Caltrain Commuter Rail; housing advocacy to ensure the approval of 300-plus affordable home developments; community efforts like our Applied Materials “Silicon Valley Turkey Trot.” Do Ben and I always agree?  No.  But by building bridges, rather than burning them down, we’re able to advance issues of importance to employers, employees and families.  I call it our “95/5 Principle” — my belief that as diverse as we are, we agree on core issues about 95% of the time, and vigorously disagree about 5%.  Rather than becoming blinded by the 5% on which we’ll never agree, we focus on the 95% where we can advance our communities together.

• “Speak Up, Stand Up, Step Up.”  This has never been more true than our efforts for racial justice and equity. First, we must speak up, which is why 140 CEOs signed our full-page newspaper ads within 24 hours.  Since speaking up is rarely enough, we must also “stand up,” by taking principled policy positions for police reforms and other measures that address inequalities systemic in our society.  Finally, we must “step up,” looking deeply within our own companies to improve our hiring, compensation and promotion practices, and taking a closer look at our C-Suites and board rooms.

David, there’s another lesson you taught me: when to step away and pass the reins of responsibility to someone new.  As I transition to my new role as executive vice president of Bloom Energy, I’m energized by the future of the Leadership Group and the positive, proactive difference it makes.  I’m equally energized to join Bloom, with the mission of our visionary founder KR Sridhar, to “make clean, reliable and affordable energy for everyone in the world.” Thank you, David, for modeling a vision with values for generations of leaders to follow.

Carl Guardino is stepping down as CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group to become executive vice president of Bloom Energy.

Every single city and county in California will receive funding. San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Marin counties and the cities within those counties are collectively estimated to receive more than $3 billion over the next 10 years.

Efforts underway to support a ballot measure to repeal SB 1, which increased the gas tax and fees to pay for transportation improvements, are misguided. Repeal would significantly derail desperately needed revenues to support Bay Area motorists who are driving on some of the worst roads in the country, wasting more time in traffic here than in nearly any other region in the United States.

Bay Area drivers already pay on average $978 a year in car repairs and vehicle wear and tear. This $978 is on top of paying for normal things like oil changes and regularly scheduled maintenance. And according to the national transportation research group TRIP, seven of every 10 Bay Area streets and roads are in poor condition.

Public transit will benefit as well from new SB 1 funding that will allow transit agencies to improve their vehicle fleets and services.

Every single driver will be better off because they’ll be driving on freeways with fewer potholes and less congestion, and smoother local roads on the way to work, to the grocery store, to school and back home.

Thanks to SB 1 funding, the California Transportation Commission – on which I serve – recently authorized accelerating road improvements in the Bay Area, including pavement improvements on Highway 87 in San Jose and a new lane to relieve congestion between interchanges on westbound Route 237 in Santa Clara County; bridge safety repairs on Interstate 880 and traffic relief on I-980 in Alameda County; a long stretch of pavement improvements on I-80 in Contra Costa County; and multiple bridge safety repairs and seismic retrofits on overpasses on I-280 and I-380 in San Mateo County.

SB 1 funding is protected so it can’t be used for anything other than transportation projects. In fact, voters will be asked to vote on a constitutional amendment in 2018 to solidify that promise in our State Constitution.

SB 1 also includes a provision to make sure that all the transportation funding that was borrowed during the recession to deal with massive deficits is paid back and dedicated for transportation projects only.

Under SB 1, an inspector general was appointed to ensure SB 1 funding is spent efficiently, to eliminate red tape and to get projects started and completed faster. It’s already working. In mid-October, the California Transportation Commission voted to fast-track billions in congestion relief, bridge safety and pavement projects statewide.

SB 1 is the booster shot we need to start fixing the mess Bay Area drivers call their daily commute. Investing in our infrastructure means safer roads for California drivers, less time stuck in traffic and tens of thousands of good paying jobs fixing our roads.

Repealing SB 1 would be a disaster for our regional economy and the safety of those using our roads. Since enacted on Nov. 1, SB 1 is already helping accelerate and jump start local projects we so desperately need. Let’s not shift into reverse when the car is already in drive.

Carl Guardino is President & CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, an association of nearly 400 employers. He is also one of nine gubernatorial appointees on the California Transportation Commission.