A monthly update regarding the important work of RCRC’s affiliate entities, providing innovative services for the benefit of rural communities.
Rural Counties ESJPA Explores EPR Compliance Pathways
At the August 20, 2026 Rural Counties Environmental Services Joint Powers Authority (ESJPA) Board of Directors meeting, ESJPA members heard from StopWaste and Landbell USA on upcoming compliance requirements for extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs impacting single-use plastics and textiles. Michelle Fay, StopWaste, joined the group to discuss how their members have begun meeting requirements for single-use plastics under Senate Bill 54 (Allen), which was signed into law in 2022. John Hayes and Patrick Gibbs, Landbell USA, detailed how they have begun compliance with SB 707, which regulates disposal of textiles, amid their status as the state textiles EPR entity.
Pat Sullivan, SCS Engineers, joined the group for the afternoon Technical Advisory Group session for an in-depth discussion of California Air Resources Board (CARB) landfill methane regulations and what will be required for compliance.
ESJPA also detailed for the Board how they have begun implementing new elements of the 2026-28 ESJPA Business Plan, including conducting visits to ESJPA member counties.
The next ESJPA Board of Directors meeting will take place on October 22, 2022.
GSCA Reaches Major Milestones in Advancing the Golden State Fiber Network
This past week, the Golden State Connect Authority (GSCA) announced two significant milestones in the development of the Golden State Fiber network. Through this initiative, GSCA is building a publicly owned, open-access last-mile broadband network designed to expand access to reliable, high-quality internet service in rural California.
First, GSCA announced that it has officially signed a Master Service Agreement with the California Department of Technology, becoming the first entity to do so. The agreement, executed in July, authorizes GSCA to begin submitting orders to utilize California’s statewide Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative network and represents a major step forward in bringing the Golden State Fiber network to communities across the state.
GSCA also announced the execution of its contract with FiberTel for the design and construction of the network’s initial project areas. Under the agreement, FiberTel will design and build fiber deployments in Alpine, Amador, Imperial, Mono, and Tehama counties, as well as the Town of Mammoth Lakes. The company will also complete Phase 2 of the network buildout in Glenn County, where GSCA broke ground on Phase 1 in April 2026. Together, these projects will encompass approximately 1,065 miles of fiber infrastructure, marking another important milestone in GSCA’s efforts to expand broadband access and deliver reliable, high-speed connectivity to underserved communities.
For additional information, read the press release on the MSA signing and the FiberTel contract announcement. To learn more about GSCA and the Golden State Fiber network, visit www.goldenstateconnect.org.