AT&T Kings 1A (T-17907) Last Mile Infrastructure Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026050083
Public Agency
California Public Utilities Commission
(CPUC)
Document Title
AT&T Kings 1A (T-17907) Last Mile Infrastructure Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/4/2026
Document Description
The Kings 1A Project is located in the Kettleman City area of Kings County. The project alignment is along State Route (SR) 41 north and south of Kettleman City from Quail Avenue to the Interstate 5 (I-5) exit. The project alignment also includes residential streets within Kettleman City and along or adjacent to county roads through agricultural land. Major roadways in the project alignment are SR 41, Racine Avenue, Milham Avenue, 25th Avenue, and Bernard Drive in Kettleman City.
The project applicant, AT&T, proposes to place approximately 18 miles of aerial or underground fiber. Aerial fiber would be placed on existing poles, where possible, which would include lashing fiber to existing AT&T strands and attachments. Where buried (i.e., existing conduit not present) or underground (i.e., existing conduit present) fiber would be installed, directional boring, micro-trenching, and/or open trenching methods would be used.
Contact Information
Name
Ruchita Acharya
Agency Name
California Public Utilities Commission
Job Title
CEQA Project Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Kings
Regions
Countywide
Cross Streets
Quail Avenue, Interstate 5 (I-5)
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
SB 131 (2025) Statutory Exemption, PRC sec. 21080.51
Reasons for Exemption
Under Resolution T-17907 CPUC determined that this project falls within statutory exemption under CEQA.
(a) [CEQA] does not apply to a project undertaken by any entity, including a public entity or private or nonprofit corporation, that consists of linear broadband deployment in a right-of-way, including a right-of-way of a local street or road, if the project meets all of the following conditions:
(1) The project is constructed along, or within 30-feet of, the right-of-way of any public road or highway.
(2) The project is either deployed underground where the surface area is restored to a condition existing before the project or placed aerially along an existing utility pole right-of-way.
(3) The project incorporates, as a condition of project approval, measures developed by the Public Utilities Commission, the Department of Transportation, or the city, county, or city and county responsible for the right-of-way to address potential environmental impacts. At minimum, the project shall be required to include monitors during construction activities and measures to avoid or address impacts to cultural and biological resources.
(4) The project applicant agrees to comply with all conditions otherwise authorized by law, imposed by a city, county, or city and county as part of a local agency permit process, that are required to mitigate potential impacts of the proposed project, and to comply with the Keene-Nejedly California Wetlands Preservation Act (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 5810) of Division 5), the California Endangered Species Act (Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code), as applicable, other applicable state laws, and all applicable federal laws.
(Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 24, Sec. 12. (SB 131) Effective June 30, 2025.