Office of Broadband and Digital Literacy: outreach.

Existing law establishes the Office of Broadband and Digital Literacy within the Department of Technology. Existing law requires the office to oversee the acquisition and management of contracts for the development and construction of a statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network, and for the maintenance and operation of the network, as specified. Existing law authorizes the office to take actions it deems necessary and appropriate for the development, acquisition, construction, maintenance, and operation of the network. This bill would require the office to take specified actions to address affordability and increase broadband adoption, including, but not limited to, coordinating with relevant state agencies to ensure those agencies are aware of discount service and device programs and that state and local agencies provide information about discount service and device programs to eligible low-income Californians who contact those agencies for support services.