The Barbed Wire - November 21, 2025

November 21, 2025 - Read the latest Advocacy News online here

Barbed Wire on Hiatus November 28

The Barbed Wire will be on hiatus, November 28th for the Thanksgiving holiday. We will return Friday, December 5th with the latest legislative and regulatory news impacting California's rural counties

Read the latest Advocacy News online here.

RCRC, Cal Cities, and CSAC Submit Joint Comments to the FCC on Wireline Deployment

On November 17, RCRC, along with the League of California Cities, and the California State Association of Counties, submitted joint comments on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Build America: Eliminating Barriers to Wireline Deployment Notice of Information (NOI)... Read More

Call to Action: Contact House Leadership to Urge Swift Passage of SRS

On November 18, 2025, RCRC wrote a letter to U.S. House leadership, urging the swift consideration of the Secure Rural Schools Act (S. 356). This bipartisan measure... Read More

ARB Advances Update to Landfill Methane Regulation – More Revisions on the Way

On November 20, the Air Resources Board (ARB) considered and “approved” updates to the state’s Landfill Methane Regulation, which seeks to reduce landfill emissions and enable... Read More

EPA and Army Corps Unveil WOTUS Proposal

On November 17, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle announced a proposed rule that would establish a clear definition... Read More

U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife Announces Proposed Rules to Restore EPA Regulations to Earlier Framework

On November 19, the Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced four proposed rules to restore Endangered Species Act regulations to their 2019 and 2020 framework. The proposals... Read More

Congressman Valadao Introduces Permitting Reform Bill

On November 19, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) introduced the Determination of NEPA Adequacy Streamlining Act. This bill would... Read More

Affiliate Updates

A monthly update regarding the important work of RCRC’s affiliate entities, providing innovative services for the benefit of rural communities.

GSNR/GSFA Modoc National Forest Project Receives NEPA Approval

On November 7, 2025, the Forest Supervisor for the Modoc National Forest (MDF) signed the Final Decision Memo for the Modoc West Plantation Fuel Reduction Project, providing approval for the project in accordance with National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) requirements. The NEPA review for this project... Read More

GSCA Releases First Bid Package

Golden State Connect Authority (GSCA) has begun the construction bid process for advancing its open access rural broadband network, called Golden State Fiber... Read More

Bulletin Board

Announcements regarding job postings, hearings, grants, and public comment notices of importance to California's rural counties. View the Bulletin Board Here

Weekly News Clips

AT&T wants to axe landlines in California. Here’s who may be hurt - CalMatters

AT&T’s failed effort this year to retire copper landlines in parts of California seemed to have support from a diverse grassroots coalition. But many of the members had ties with the telecom giant, CalMatters found.

Communities reducing wildfire risk don't often get better insurance - NPR

Homeowners who make their houses more fire-resistant are eligible for discounts from insurance companies in California, often around 5-10%. But larger efforts by communities often aren't factored in by insurance companies.

Opinion | California’s rural youth struggle alone with mental health - CalMatters

In rural America, young people face some of the most alarming mental health challenges in the nation, with rates of depression, anxiety and suicide far outpacing those of their urban peers. Limited insurance coverage and severe shortages of mental health professionals only deepen the crisis.

Pack Fire near Mammoth Lakes leaves dozens of families homeless - SF Chronicle

As firefighters gain the upper hand on the Pack Fire that tore through communities near the Mammoth Lakes, residents in California’s Eastern Sierra are beginning the long process of recovery — with neighbors, local businesses and strangers rallying to help those who lost everything.

Legislative Update

Click "Read More" to access information related to the current status of legislation impacting California's rural counties. Read More

For a full list of RCRC-tracked legislation, by issue area, use our Legislative Tracking Tool.