Broadband for All Update
July 2025
The California Department of Technology’s (CDT) Broadband Update provides the latest information on the implementation of the State’s Broadband Action Plan, Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative (MMBI), and other digital equity and inclusion activities, collectively known as Broadband for All.
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Community Spotlight
The California Green Technology Initiative Helps Close the Digital Divide and Reduce E-Waste
The California Green Technology Initiative led by California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) and Get Connected! California Partnership (GCCP) was launched on June 2, 2025, to reduce e-waste and help close the digital divide.
This statewide initiative encourages businesses and organizations to donate retired computers and IT equipment at no cost. CETF, in partnership with Revivn, a public benefit corporation, securely collects and repurposes IT hardware. The donated devices are then refurbished by regional nonprofits and provided to low-income families and students at a low or no cost.
The program aims to keep more computing devices in California, rather than exporting them. It encourages organizations and companies to reduce storage and disposal costs while supporting digital equity, workforce development, environmental impact, and data destruction standards.
Watch the Highlights Video of California Green Technology Initiative Launch.
For more information, visit cetf.org or email: charlene.tatis@cetfund.org.
Please send story ideas related to your work to close the digital divide and foster digital equity to digitalequity@state.ca.gov for consideration in future Broadband for All email updates.
Broadband for All Update
Save the Date: Third California Broadband Council Meeting on July 25
The next California Broadband Council (CBC) meeting will take place on Friday, July 25, 2025, at CoveredCA Tahoe Conference Room 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). There will also be council members and community spotlights to feature related work from across the state.
More information on the California Broadband Council can be found on this page. To find past meeting recordings, presentations, and minutes, access Broadband for All: Past Events.
Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative Update
Vero Networks Celebrates Middle-Mile Fiber Partnership in Eureka/Arcata Area with the California Department of Technology
Vero Networks, one of the Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative’s network partners, hosted a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, June 24th, at the Humboldt Bay Social Club, located in Samoa. This event highlighted the partnership between Vero Networks and the California Department of Technology (CDT) and their common goal to close the digital divide.
Through this partnership, CDT adds roughly 24 miles of middle-mile fiber, traversing rural areas from McKinleyville to Eureka/Arcata as part of California’s Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative (MMBI).
Vero Networks’ last-mile build, funded by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), will connect directly into CDT’s 8,100+ miles of the Middle-Mile Broadband Network (MMBN), creating an end-to-end path for affordable, reliable internet. This unique event highlights the power of public-private partnerships in delivering critical infrastructure to Californians.
California Department of Technology Partners with the City of Fort Bragg
In December 2024, the City of Fort Bragg was awarded a Federal Funding Account (FFA) grant by CPUC for a last mile project that will be leveraged to connect to the MMBN in the Fort Bragg City area.
This month, CDT and Fort Bragg formally entered a partnership to build out approximately four miles of network infrastructure as part of the MMBI. Running along State Route 1, this partnership is expected to help close the region’s digital divide, allowing residents and local businesses in Fort Bragg to access fast, more reliable internet services to be able to participate in the modern digital economy.
“Partnering with CDT on the MMBI ensures our community benefits from this historical investment to close the digital divide, noted City of Fort Bragg’s Economic Development Manager, Sarah McCormick. The City of Fort Bragg’s municipal broadband utility will connect directly to the middle-mile infrastructure, delivering reliable and affordable broadband to all residents and businesses, and establishing a foundation for equitable access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.”
Q3 Middle-Mile Advisory Committee Meeting
The Q3 Middle-Mile Advisory Committee (MMAC) meeting will be held on July 18, 2025, at the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors building and on Zoom. The committee will hear the latest updates on the MMBI from CDT and its partners at Caltrans and GoldenStateNet (GSN). CPUC will also provide updates on the last-mile programs it is administering for the last-mile connections to the MMBN. CDT continues to value your involvement. Find more information about the MMAC on this webpage.
Installation Updates
The MMBI continues to make significant progress across the state. Nearly half of the planned network footprint (~4,000 miles) is in installation through CDT’s joint build, IRU/lease, and purchase partnerships, and Caltrans. Here is the breakdown of updates as of June 2025.
Caltrans Construction Highlights:
Caltrans continues to make progress, having moved from planning to installation on approximately 217 miles of the network as projects move from pre-construction to installation. Ground broke this month for the following three segments:
- 43 miles in El Dorado, Placer, and Alpine Counties along State Routes 50 and 89
- 7 miles in San Diego County along State Route 125
- 8 miles in San Diego County along State Route 163
Joint Build & Lease Highlights:
Siskiyou Telephone Company Project: Installation from one of our joint build network partners, Siskiyou (covering approximately 164 miles), has started installation on a 31-mile segment in Siskiyou County along State Route 3 and Sawyers Bar Road.
Last Mile Program Update
Federal Funding Account
Expedited, Limited Six County Application Window. The CPUC last mile Federal Funding Account Round 2 application window in the six counties of Calaveras, Contra Costa, Inyo, Monterey, Orange, and Trinity closed on June 2, 2025. The CPUC received 72 applications, grant requests totaling approximately $600 million. More information is available on the Application Resources and 2025 Data and Public Map pages.
California Advanced Services Fund
The next application deadline for Tribal Technical Assistance Grant Program is October 1, 2025. The 2025 application deadline for the Broadband Infrastructure Grant Account is October 31, 2025. The next application deadline for Broadband Adoption Account and Broadband Public Housing Account is January, 2026. Find out more about the California Advanced Services Fund programs here.
Digital Equity and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Updates
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has issued a Restructuring Policy Notice requiring State Broadband Officers to implement changes to their subgrantee selection process under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.
In response to this notice, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is actively reviewing the guidance and evaluating necessary updates to the state’s BEAD subgrantee selection process. We are committed to transparency and timely communication as we implement any required changes.
We encourage all interested parties to stay informed by visiting our BEAD program webpage for the latest updates and resources: BEAD Subgrantee Selection
We will continue to share information as it becomes available and thank you for your continued engagement in expanding broadband access across California.
Broadband Adoption Update
Low-Cost Offer Finder Tool
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.
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.
State Digital Equity Plan and Capacity Grant Updates
In the wake of the federal administration’s termination of the Digital Equity Act programs, the California Digital Equity Program remains suspended until further notice. CDT and the Office of Broadband and Digital Literacy continue to assess options and are determining how best to move forward with the implementation of the State Digital Equity Plan. CDT anticipates hosting a digital equity stakeholder briefing in late summer. Please stay tuned for details.
Digital Equity Resource Finder
The Digital Equity (DE) Resource Finder tool has been developed with the 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. Please use this partnership 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.
Funding Opportunities
Broadband for All Portal Funding Finder
The Office of Broadband and Digital Literacy tracks funding opportunities as they become available and strives to keep the Broadband for All portal up to date with information on broadband deployment, adoption, and digital literacy planning and implementation. Find these opportunities through funding opportunities link.
Upcoming Events
**Find materials from [past events].
| Date | Time | Event | Locations and Links |
| Friday, July 18, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Middle-Mile Advisory Council Meeting (Hybrid) | Sacramento County Administration Center 700 H St.,1st Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814 Meeting Details |
| Friday, July 25, 2025 | 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. | California Broadband Council Meeting (Hybrid) | Covered CA 1601 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815 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.
