Sacramento – In follow up to the announcement by Caltrans that an agreement has been reached with SBC clearing the way for the laying of 21 miles of fiber optic cable along U.S. 101 South of Eureka, Assemblymember Patty expressed relief and great pleasure. “I’m thrilled that Caltrans and SBC have been able to come to an agreement on this issue. It appears that my bill will not be needed and nothing could please me more,” said Berg.

AB 1164, authored by Assemblymember Berg with the goal of connecting Humboldt County to the fiber optic network was passed by the Assembly with a 78 to 0 vote on May 22nd and has moved on to the Senate.

News of this decision has been long awaited by people on the North Coast. The dispute between Caltrans and SBC began well over a year ago when SBC (then Pacific Bell) was asked to pay a fee of several million dollars for permits along Highway 101 to lay fiber optic cable between Eureka and Ukiah. Both businesses and schools have been united in their effort to bring this issue to a positive conclusion. Business argued the loss of economic opportunity and Humboldt and Del Norte Counties are two of only three counties unable to access the Digital California Project serving the educational needs of students form kindergarten through college.

Caltrans expects to have the project completed by the end of this coming fall. Berg said, “This is a very happy day indeed and a win/win for everyone involved.