Community Spotlight

NTIA Announces First Round of Digital Equity Competitive Grants

On January 6, 2025, the NTIA, has recommended for award more than $250 million to 24 organizations to support digital skills and inclusion projects in communities across the country. This funding comes from the $1.25 billion Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, one of three Digital Equity Act grant programs created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  

Three organizations have proposed project areas in California:

• California Emerging Technology Fund
• Hmong American Partnership
• International Rescue Committee, Inc.

See the full press release here.

NTIA Announces 2nd Round of Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program Grantees  

Broadband for All Update

First California Broadband Council Meeting of 2025, New Location  

The first California Broadband Council (CBC) meeting of the year will take place on Friday, January 24, at the Covered California Tahoe Conference Room (1601 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815) and on Zoom. Presenters will provide updates on the Broadband for All Action Plan implementation, Middle-Mile and Last Mile programs, Statewide Broadband Adoption efforts, and the State Digital Equity Plan (SDEP), and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) programs.  

Find past meeting recordings, presentations, and minutes here.  

Register now to join January 29 CDT Permitting Roundtable   

Join the upcoming Permitting Roundtable on Wednesday, January 29, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. The roundtable will address the pressing need to prepare locally for the influx of federal and state-funded broadband infrastructure projects deployed over the next several years. 

Register here to increase local awareness and understanding of how permitting at all levels of government impacts broadband infrastructure deployment

Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative Update

California Department of Technology Partners with the Karuk Tribe 

CDT and the Karuk Tribe, one of the largest federally recognized Indian tribes in California, have entered into a historic partnership to install and maintain approximately 46 miles of the Middle-Mile Broadband Network (MMBN) in Humbolt County on tribal lands in the northern parts of the State along State Route 96 and 101 corridors, paving the way for reliable and affordable high-speed internet access to some of California’s most digitally stranded rural and tribal communities. The collaboration leverages shared construction costs and resources and streamlines communication and permitting processes. This agreement represents a significant milestone for the MMBI program and highlights CDT’s commitments to collaborative partnerships.

“We are entering into an era of co-management where [we] work together with our state partners to manage these lands which requires an adaptive process,” noted Karuk Tribe Chairman Russell “Buster” Attebery. “The Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative is an integral part of that process. Broadband is not just public safety and education, but also a life-changing instrument and we are partnering with the state to ensure that the next generations of the Karuk people can survive and have a better quality of life.”

Figure 1: CDT and Karuk Tribe representatives signing an agreement to deploy network infrastructure 

CDT Partners with Gateway Cities Council of Governments  

CDT entered into another joint build partnership this month with Gateway Cities Council of Governments for approximately 73 miles of network along a number of routes in southeast Los Angeles County, connecting 26 cities, many of them historically underserved communities. The partnership combines grassroots planning with State resources to ensure the middle-mile broadband network enables locally planned last-mile broadband infrastructure projects. Through this partnership, CDT continues to address the digital divide with the aim of providing open-access middle-mile connectivity to the unserved and underserved communities throughout the State.

“Low-income communities are behind technologically – and business as usual has left communities in several areas of California with a digital divide,” commented Vilma Cuellar-Stallings, Board President Gateway Cities Council of Governments and Paramount City Councilwoman. “We are grateful that the California Department of Technology worked with the cities in Southeast Los Angeles County to narrow our digital divide and that of communities like ours, bringing high-speed fiber optic access to underserved Californians.”

California surpasses 3,000 miles of broadband under construction  

California continues to close the digital divide with the state having surpassed 3,000 miles of broadband network in installation as of December 31, 2024. CDT and its partners hosted several groundbreaking ceremonies throughout the year to kick off major fiber route installations. New partnerships were signed in both Northern California and Southern California through the end of the year, further highlighting CDT’s momentous and tangible progress in the installation of middle-mile broadband network infrastructure. CDT projects 4,000 miles to be in active installation by Spring 2025. Expanding the state’s broadband network is a key part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s “Build More, Faster – For All” infrastructure agenda delivering infrastructure upgrades across the state. Find projects underway in your community at build.ca.gov.

Installation Updates 

CDT continues to make significant progress in network development across the State through Caltrans and CDT’s joint build and IRU/lease partnerships. Here is the breakdown of updates for December 2024. 

Caltrans Construction Highlights 

Caltrans continues to make progress moving from planning to installation on nearly 800 miles of the network, as projects move from pre-construction to installation. Installation started this month on an approximately 12-mile segment (PLU-70) in Plumas County along State Route 70 and State Route 89.

IRU/Lease Partnership Highlights 

Lumen IRU Project: Installation from one of our IRU/lease network partners, Lumen, covers over 700 miles across nine individual segments. In December, installation started on an approximately 82-mile segment in Los Angeles and Orange Counties which runs from Los Angeles to Santa Ana. 

CVIN Lease Project: Installation from one of our lease network partners, CVIN, covers over 2,700 miles across California. Installation started in December for the following three segments of approximately:

• 35-mile segment along State Route 99 in Kern County.  
• 45-mile segment along State Route 198 from San Benito County to Fresno County.
• 28-mile segment traversing State Route 41 in Kings County.  

Joint Build Partnership Highlights 

Arcadian Joint Build Project: Our Joint Build partner, Arcadian, will install over 1,000 miles of network infrastructure along 5 different segments throughout the state. Arcadian recently kicked off installation along its “Roadrunner” Route that traverses Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties for approximately 310 miles.

American Dark Fiber (ADF) Project: Installation from one of our joint build network partners, ADF, covers approximately 380 miles between 10 different segments. Installation has recently kicked off and made early progress for an approximately 3-mile segment in San Diego County.

Upcoming Middle-Mile Advisory Committee Meeting 

The first quarterly Middle-Mile Advisory Committee (MMAC) meeting of 2025 will be held on Friday, January 17, at 10 a.m., at the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors Board Chambers (700 H St., 1^st Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814), as well as on Zoom. We continue to value your involvement. For more information about the MMAC, click here.

Past recordings, transcripts, and slides are available on the Meetings tab of the MMBI website.

Last Mile Program Update

Federal Funding Account Updates

CPUC Surpasses $1 Billion in Broadband Grants Across California: Nearly 2 million Californians in 47 counties will benefit from California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) last mile Federal Funding Account grants, with proposed grants in additional counties. These investments benefit Tribes, disadvantaged, and low-income communities across the state as part of the $2 billion last mile Federal Funding Account grant program.  

For a full list of awards and recommendations to date, visit the CPUC’s Federal Funding Account Recommendations and Awards webpage, dashboard and map. The CPUC is continuing to announce awards and proposed awards for last mile broadband projects.  

California Advanced Services Fund Updates

On December 20, 2024, the CPUC approved $965,828 in Broadband Public Housing Account grants for wireline and wireless infrastructure to provide free broadband service to 493 households in California. The CPUC also approved $1.4 million for 30 projects to provide free broadband service to 2,546 households over the next five years. These initiatives will be spread throughout key areas, including San Francisco, Fresno, Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Los Banos.  

In addition, the CPUC awarded $4.9 million in Broadband Adoption Account funding to 48 projects that will deliver digital literacy training to 6,927 participants and broadband access to 12,051 individuals in low-income and disadvantaged communities.  

Comments and reply comments on the Assigned Commissioner’s Ruling Inviting Comments on Staff Proposals for Modifications to Line Extension Program, Adoption Account and Consortia Account are due by January 17 and February 3, 2025, respectively. Find out more about the CASF program here.  

Broadband Adoption Update

Low-cost Offer Finder

To find affordable broadband service and computing devices, CDT has partnered with EveryoneOn to help California residents find affordable service programs in their area by zip code. 

The low-cost offer finder tool, provides access to low-cost internet services, computer equipment, and digital skills training.  

Home internet service and computing devices are critical for all individuals to reap the social and economic benefits of the digital world. The cost of both remains a barrier for many people. 

Digital Equity and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Updates

Mark Your Calendars for the January 31 Digital Equity Stakeholder Briefing 

In continuation of our Stakeholder Engagement series, CDT will host an SDEP Implementation & DECG Program Design Stakeholder Briefing on Friday, January 31 to share updates on the State Digital Equity Plan implementation and the status of the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant program. Register here.

To view past Stakeholder Briefings, find the meeting recordings and materials here.

Digital Equity Resource Finder

The Digital Equity Resource Finder tool has been developed with digital equity practitioner network as the initial primary user. The finder has been populated with data collected during the development of the SDEP including Digital Equity Ecosystem Mapping (DEEM) data, regional public meetings and engagement with digital equity partners. Future iterations of this tool will be developed in partnership via ongoing work efforts of SDEP implementation including the relaunch of the Outcome Area Communities of Practice (OACP) and upcoming capacity grantees.  Please use this form, to add your organization, update your organization’s information or remove your organization. 

For any questions, please contact the team at DEEM@state.ca.gov.  

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program Updates 

The CPUC is conducting BEAD program webinars and office hours to assist potential applicants with the subgrantee selection and application process. Register here to join future sessions and review past events.  

Learn more about the BEAD grant program subgrantee selection rules in the CPUC’s Initial Proposal Volume 2 (approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration on October 4, 2024). 

Please make sure to subscribe here to receive BEAD email announcements including upcoming webinar dates. 

Learn more about the BEAD program here  

NTIA Funding Opportunities

Last Reminder: NTIA’s Native Entities (NE) Planning and Capacity Grant Program   

The goal of the NTIA’s State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program for Native Entities, also known as Native Entity Capacity & Planning Grant Program, is to fund initiatives that help Native communities to fully access and take advantage of the digital world. These investments can empower NE communities through aiding economic development, preserving traditional practices, and facilitating inter/intra-government coordination. NTIA expects to begin issuing awards in Summer 2025 on a rolling basis.  

The Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program for Native Entities Applicant Webinar took place on December 11, find the recording and slide deck here.    

The grant application window for this program is from September 25, 2024, to February 7, 2025. For additional information and how to apply, please see here. 

Upcoming Events

**Find materials from past events [here]

Date	Time	Event	Locations and Links
Friday, January 17, 2025	10:00 – 11:30 a.m.	Middle-Mile Advisory Council Meeting (Hybrid) Agenda	Sacramento County Board of Supervisors Building – Board Chambers   700 H St.,1st Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814 Zoom
Friday, January 24, 2025	9:30 – 11:30 a.m.	California Broadband Council Meeting (Hybrid) Agenda	Covered CA 1601 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815 Zoom
Wednesday, January 29, 2025	10:00 – 11:00 a.m.	Permitting Roundtable (Virtual)	Zoom
Friday, January 31, 2025	1:00 – 2:00 p.m.	SDEP Implementation & DECG Stakeholder Briefing (Virtual)	Zoom

Job Opportunities

 Keep an eye on CDT Broadband job postings and CPUC job postings. Visit CalCareers  for more information and to apply for open positions.