West Hills Community College District secured a $1 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to expand broadband access.
The grant will help establish the Rural Broadband Initiative Cooperative Network (RuBICON).
The big picture: RuBICON is aimed at providing affordable broadband services to rural communities and farms in the Central Valley.
- The project would form a cooperative to deliver reliable and cost-effective broadband access to communities, similar to the electric co-op movement seen in rural areas.
- West Hills is searching for a project director to lead RuBICON and is currently accepting applications.
What they’re saying: West Hills Associate Vice Chancellor of Information Technology Jeff Seed said the project is designed to facilitate cost-effective broadband deployment with the goal of serving as a model to be replicated across the nation.
- “This is not just about broadband access – it’s about fostering sustainable farming, building robust local economies, and empowering our rural communities for the digital future,” Seed said.
