May 20, 2021
LAWT News Service
Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson who is a member of the California Broadband Council, authored AB 1425, which seeks to ensure all low-income residents in publicly subsidized housing have access to and can use high-speed internet/broadband services.
“Internet access is a social justice issue,” said Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson. “Approximately 40% of all residential units in publicly subsidized housing complexes are not connected to the Internet.”
AB 1425 would transfer $25 million annually to the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Public Housing Account (PHA) and sets a goal of connecting all residents by 2025; or as soon as possible.
The funds would go to grants to connect residents and provide access in public housing in both urban and rural communities.
“The COVID-19 pandemic imposed an extended gap in the education of California’s 6 million K-12 students,” said Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson. “There is a substantial learning loss, especially in earlier grades for our 4th through 10th graders, in both English and Math.”
AB 1425 passed the Assembly Communication and Conveyance Committee by a 10-3 vote and is sponsored by the California Emerging Technology Fund and the National Community Renaissance. The bill is also supported by Watts Community Core, Watts Gang Task Force and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angles (HACLA).