The $46.6 million fund that the Obama administration had provided will target areas that are “unserved” or “underserved” by broadband phone internet access.

According to reports, communities can qualify for the grant that will be given by the government. If the households in the community have broadband phone internet which is fewer than 40 percent, then it will be considered as underserved.

According to the 2009 survey by the nonpartisan Public policy Institute of California, almost 49 percent of the households in Central Valley cannot access high-speed internet service.

According to reports, the money that will be given by the government will help lengthen the fiber optic and wireless broadband service from Yuba City to Bakersfield and through the Sierra Nevada. The money will help the rural areas to catch up to other communities that are already served by the high speed internet services.

According to Gary Locke, commerce secretary, the program of the government is one of the best examples of government investment done right. He said that the federal funding will encourage more private investments.

The group of independent phone companies that is called the Central Valley Independent Network will use the federal funds from the government to make a 1,371-mile fiber optic network. Almost half of 1,371-mile fiber optic is already built. The plan will provide high-speed internet service in almost 18 California counties, going as far south as Kern County and as far north as Colusa County.

The money will also help in paying for the 12 wireless nodes to provide services to remote areas such as Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern Counties. The money will also be used to boost the 350 cell phone towers in the region so it can also provide high speed wireless access for the people in the region.