Fulfilling his commitment to digitally connect California’s cities, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an executive order today to clear the government red tape for building broadband networks, reports GovTech Magazine.

Karl Bode at DSL Reports posts this story:

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday signed an executive order aimed at making California a broadband leader. The order imposes a number of changes in California law that the Governor’s website insists will “clear the government red tape for building broadband networks.” Schwarzenegger has an approval rating of 47 percent, and LA Times polling numbers have him leading by 17 percentage points in his re-election campaign.

Some of the changes imposed by the order (The full text of which is available here):

It creates a new task force that will make recommendations to the Governor

• It tasks the Business, Transportation & Housing (BT&H) as lead coordinator for implementing the state’s broadband policy
• It creates a database linking private broadband companies with state transportation agencies to better coordinate fiber installs
• It streamlines rights of way permitting procedures and creates standardized pricing
• It tasks BT&H with improved stat collection
• It aims to increase deployment of Wi-Fi and VoIP in state buildings

“Broadband will help build California so we can grow our economy by competing in the global marketplace,” said Schwarzenegger of the new changes. “California must remain competitive so we continue to attract the best, brightest and most creative workforce in the world.” The state website states that bringing broadband access to 50% of Californians would “have enormous economic impacts on the state, adding over $365 billion annually to the state’s economy within seven years and helping create or retain two million sustainable jobs.” The website also proclaims that every dollar invested in broadband networks generates $3 in economic activity, and every $1 billion in telecom capital spending equates to 7,000 new telecom jobs.

Verizon over the weekend issued a press release stating they were pleased with the Governator – and they should be: the state shares the incumbent phone providers’ view that deregulation acts as a catalyst for broadband deployment. After telcos spent nearly $20 million in three months on lobbying state lawmakers, the state passed a statewide video franchise system the telcos believe will expedite next-gen network deployment.

Election time gimmick or significant milestone?

It’s election time, Karl. Oregon’s Governor Ted Kulongoski says he’s been talking to Verizon, too about some kind of rural broadband plan. OMG!

Om Malik reports that Verizon reported a mixed bag of earnings this morning: company’s wireless and broadband business are doing just fine, while the wireline business is becoming a bit of drag.

Verizon Wireless added 1.9 million net customers in the third quarter 2006, up 15.1% from the third quarter 2005. Revenues for the wireless business were up 18.2% from third quarter 2005.

Broadband is where the company showed better than expected results. Analysts expected Verizon to add about 130,000 FiOS customers, the company added about 147,000 in the third quarter. Some analysts expected 55,000 video customers, VZ added 63,000.

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Posted by Sam Churchill on Monday, October 30th, 2006 at 11:21 am.