The California Public Utilities Commission CPUC) has created an $100 million fund and an agency to manage the fund “…to bring broadband service to unserved and underserved areas of California, many of which are rural, remote, or socio-economically disadvantaged communities.” That’s good for the north coast, much of which meets that description. The money will be dispensed over a two year period beginning January 1, 2008 so it’s clear there is some urgency to getting this state up to speed.

Speed in this context is set at a baseline of 3 Mbps download and 1 Mpbs upload. That might not seem like much for those of us already enjoying broadband, but if all you can get is 56K on a good day, this will be a blessing.

The funding comes at a great time as the Redwood Coast Connect project will be winding up its study of the market deman for the region about the same time as the application deadline for the fund in early June.

You can read the full press release.