CPUC Awards $237 Million in Grants for Broadband Projects Across California
This brings the total amount in grants awarded and recommended to $434 million for projects in 22 counties
Continuing to invest where it matters most
Many awardees are creating new networks, connecting the next generation to education, improving access to healthcare, and empowering rural communities for economic development and emergency connectivity. Combined, these proposed projects will serve predominantly disadvantaged and low-income communities across the state.
Today’s awardees include:
-
$95 million for 10 Last Mile Federal Funding Account broadband infrastructure grant projects in Alpine, Modoc, Riverside, Santa Barbara, and Tulare counties. This includes grants to two tribes—the Fort Bidwell Indian Community in Modoc County and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in Santa Barbara County.
-
$142 million for 11 Last Mile Federal Funding Account broadband infrastructure grant projects in Mono, Nevada, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, and San Mateo counties. This includes a grant to the Colorado River Indian Tribes in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Currently, the total amount in grants recommended and awarded is $434 million for projects in 22 counties. For a full list of recommendations and awards to date, visit the CPUC’s Federal Funding Account Recommendations and Awards webpage.
“These broadband projects put state and federal funds to work, bolstering our economy, building durable infrastructure, and generating quality jobs,” said CPUC President Alice Reynolds. “This infrastructure will meet the work, education, healthcare, public safety, and social needs of Californians well into the future, bringing us closer to achieving our Broadband For All objectives.”
Grant recipients empower their communities – What they are saying
-
Fort Bidwell Indian Community:
-
“The Gidutikad Band of Northern Paiutes-Fort Bidwell Indian Community (FBIC) fiber-to-the-home project will provide high-speed broadband to homes and businesses in Fort Bidwell, Lake City, and Cedarville, with a middle-mile component interconnecting each town. FBIC will be working with EnerTribe Inc., a Native American owned company to bring advanced technology and infrastructure to the communities. By enhancing connectivity, we are opening new doors for our tribal members, providing greater access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. This initiative is more than just an infrastructure upgrade; it is a profound commitment to the well-being and progress of the entire community.” – Tribal Chairman, Gidutikad Band of Northern Paiutes, Germain Ruvalcaba
-
GSCA Alpine County:
-
“Broadband is the backbone of modern society, enabling everything from remote learning to telehealth services. On behalf of both GSCA and Alpine County, I would like to express our deepest gratitude for this grant award. These funds will enable us to provide high-speed internet to residents who have been without this essential service for far too long, which will have a profound and lasting impact on our community’s future.” - GSCA Vice President and Alpine County Supervisor, David Griffith
-
City of Indio:
-
“The City of Indio is excited to receive a grant award from Federal Funding Account. The grant will enable the City of Indio to bring last mile fiber connectivity to our unserved and underserved communities. This transformative investment in our city’s infrastructure will bridge the digital divide, ensuring that all our residents have access to the high-speed internet they need for education, healthcare, and economic opportunity. This is a significant step towards a more connected and prosperous future for everyone in our city.” - City of Indio Director of Information Technology, Ian Cozens
-
Tulare County Board of Supervisors:
-
“I’m thankful for both the CPUC and Comcast for their continued commitment and investments to bridging the digital divide in Tulare County. High-speed, reliable Internet is no longer a luxury. This investment will provide more than 6,200 unserved homes and businesses in our communities with an accessible and affordable Internet connection to help families succeed, students thrive in school, businesses drive economic growth, and foster greater innovation throughout the region.” - Chair of the Tulare County Board of Supervisors, Larry Micari
-
Comcast:
-
“Comcast is proud to partner with the CPUC to bring reliable, high-speed Internet access to several communities across Tulare County by early 2026. By continuing to invest in public-private partnerships such as this, Comcast will bring our best-in-class broadband services to previously unserved locations and help ensure that no one is left behind, no matter their economic status or where they live.” - Regional Senior Vice President of Comcast, David Tashjian
-
AT&T:
-
“We’re proud to receive three grant awards from the CPUC to expand broadband access in Riverside County. Through this public-private partnership, more Riverside County homes and businesses will benefit from having access to high-speed broadband to connect with friends, colleagues, and family members.” – President of AT&T California and Pacific States, Marc Blakeman
Awarding grants throughout California
Today’s approval is part of a process to award last mile broadband grants to projects in every region in the state to established internet service providers, small providers, local governments, tribes, and special districts. Draft Resolutions with award recommendations will be released through the summer and early fall, each open for public comment. These recommendations will be considered and must be approved by vote at a public CPUC Voting Meeting.
For more information, including the grants approved today, please visit the CPUC’s Federal Funding Account Recommendations and Awards webpage.
Future application windows will be announced as funds are appropriated.
Fueling economic growth statewide
Established under Senate Bill 156 (2021), the CPUC’s Last Mile Federal Funding Account is fueling economic growth across rural, tribal, and urban communities statewide.
Since the initial round of applications closed in September 2023, the CPUC has received and reviewed 484 grant applications from every county in the state, totaling more than $4.6 billion in requests. This overwhelming response highlights the urgent need for and the opportunity to expand internet access across California.
In addition to the Last Mile Federal Funding Account, the CPUC is investing in a suite of programs in the state’s efforts in connecting millions of Californians with reliable, affordable high-speed internet, including the California Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program and the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF).
###
About the California Public Utilities Commission
The CPUC regulates services and utilities, protects consumers, safeguards the environment, and assures Californians access to safe and reliable utility infrastructure and services. Visit www.cpuc.ca.gov for more information.