Broadband for All Update
October 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
Waskawiwin hosts its 18th Tribal Broadband Bootcamp
This past August, Waskawiwin, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, focused on developing tribal broadband capacity, gathered communications teams from seven tribes for a three-day Tribal Broadband Bootcamp to learn how to build and run Tribal Internet networks. The bootcamp featured hands-on fiber and wireless training, network maintenance, digital inclusion resources, tribal broadband case studies, and professional development opportunities for tribes working to connect their communities to broadband. Participants also built valuable connections and learned directly from experienced network operators, industry professionals, and broadband experts.
Support and sponsorship for this bootcamp were provided by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Democracy Fund, Calix, Merit Network, Tak Broadband and Tribal Resource Center. It was one in a series of 18 to date conducted by Waskawiwin, which hosted more than 450 people from over 80 tribes.
The next bootcamp will be held November 3-6, 2025, at Rantanen Town Ranch near Aguanga, California.
Visit www.tribalbroadbandbootcamp.org to learn more.
Michelson Foundation Names 2025 Digital Equity Spark Grantees!
Congratulations to the Michelson 20MM Foundation’s 2025 Digital Equity Spark grantees. The grantees, include Brite, with its documentary Disconnected bringing to life stories of digital discrimination; Chirla, launching a community-designed low-cost ISP based on immigrant families’ internet needs; UNITE-LA, piloting public broadband models in Pacoima and the Antelope Valley; and the Youth Law Center, pushing for digital access rights for foster and justice-involved youth via legal strategy and policy compliance.
Michelson is committed to closing the digital divide for underserved and historically marginalized communities by ensuring affordable, reliable internet for all unlocks educational, economic, and civic potential.
For more information, visit www.20mm.org/news/2025-digital-equity-spark-grantees
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
Join us for the Q4 California Broadband Council Meeting
The next California Broadband Council meeting will take place on Friday, October 24 at 9:30 a.m. at CoveredCA – Tahoe Board Room and on Zoom. Presenters will provide updates on the Broadband for All Action Plan implementation, Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative, and Last Mile programs.
To find past meeting recordings, presentations, and minutes, access Broadband for All: Past Events.
Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative Update
Connecting Tolowa Communities: A New Joint Build Partnership
CDT and the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation have agreed to a lease partnership to expand high-speed broadband infrastructure for tribal communities in Northern California. Together, CDT and the Tribe will construct approximately 19 miles of middle-mile broadband fiber through Tolowa ancestral lands. The route will extend south from the Oregon border, near the Smith River, through the heart of Tolowa territory, past Fort Dick, and end near the outskirts of Crescent City.
This fiber backbone will enable remote neighborhoods, public institutions, and community hubs to connect to reliable broadband internet. For the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation, the project represents both a strategic infrastructure investment and a meaningful step toward greater digital equity. By working together, CDT and the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation are ensuring that rural and Tribal communities gain access to dependable internet service, supporting California’s broader vision of “Broadband for All”.
CDT Expands Construction Partnership with American Dark Fiber
CDT has expanded its partnership with American Dark Fiber (ADF) to construct middle-mile broadband infrastructure in Los Angeles and Mendocino counties. Under this agreement, ADF will serve as the construction partner for two previously announced joint-build projects: approximately 75 miles of fiber across the Gateway Cities region in southeast Los Angeles County, and 4 miles of fiber along State Route 1 in the City of Fort Bragg.
Earlier this year, CDT entered into joint-build agreements with both the Gateway Cities Council of Governments and the City of Fort Bragg to bring high-speed open-access broadband to their communities, many of which are historically underserved. By bringing ADF on board as the construction partner, the State is able to maximize efficiency and cost-effectiveness in deploying critical broadband infrastructure.
7th Annual North State/North Coast Broadband Summit Held August 28th
The North State Planning and Development Collective hosted the 7th Annual Broadband Summit, which took place on August 28. Representatives from CDT, the California Emerging Technology Fund, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and the National Telecommunications Industry Association (NTIA) convened to discuss broadband efforts, legislation, and initiatives across the North State region.
This virtual event, which was free and open to the public, aimed to provide attendees with timely updates on efforts to bridge the digital divide in Northern California. The MMBI Deputy Director, Mark Monroe, and the Deputy Director for the Office of Broadband and Digital Literacy (OBDL), Scott Adams, participated as panelists to share insights on Broadband for All and Middle-Mile developments relevant to the counties represented by the North State Broadband Connect Consortium.
For more information, you can contact Alice Patterson of the North State Planning and Development Collective at ampatterson@csuchico.edu.
Third Joint Federal-State Rights-of-Way Workshop & Consultations with Tribes
On Tuesday, September 30, the MMBI team joined Tribal leaders, federal and state agencies, and utility partners for the Third Joint Federal-State Workshop and Tribal Consultations. Sponsored by CPUC and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and hosted by the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe, the workshop focused on strengthening collaboration to expand broadband and utility infrastructure across Northern California’s Tribal regions.
This event brings together CPUC, BIA, utility partners and state entities to meet directly with Tribal leaders to discuss key challenges including permitting and right-of-way (ROW) access for utility and broadband infrastructure on Tribal lands.
CDT’s MMBI team highlighted several of its ongoing partnerships with California tribes and presented the MMBI Tribal Policy, which establishes an offer to tribes located along or near the Middle-Mile Broadband Network (MMBN). This policy is designed to ensure that tribal communities are able to benefit directly from California’s statewide broadband investment. To date, CDT has presented the policy to more than 25 tribes, with strong engagement from tribal governments across the state.
With a focus on Northern California Tribes and the utilities that serve their regions, the workshop provides a vital platform for dialogue, problem solving, and partnership.
Q4 Middle-Mile Advisory Committee Meeting
The Q4 Middle-Mile Advisory Committee (MMAC) meeting will be held on Friday, October 17, 2025, at the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors building and via Zoom. The committee will receive 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.
Your participation is valued. More information about the MMAC can be found on the Meetings page.
Installation Updates
MMBI continues to make significant progress across the state. More than 4,350 miles have gone to installation through CDT’s joint build, IRU/lease, and purchase partnerships, and with Caltrans. Here is the breakdown of updates as of September 2025.
Caltrans Construction Highlights:
Caltrans continues to make progress, having moved from planning to installation on approximately 242 miles of the network as projects move from pre-construction to installation. Installation started this month on an approximately 11-mile segment in Plumas County, along State Route 70.
Joint Build & Lease Highlights:
Lumen Technologies Joint Build & IRU projects: Installation from one of our joint-build network partners, Lumen Technologies (covering over 1,800 miles across 20 different segments) has also made substantial progress. Installation started this month for the following three segments:
- 6 miles in San Bernardino County.
- 38 miles in Los Angeles County.
- 54 miles from San Bernardino County to Los Angeles County.
CVIN Leased Project: Installation from one of our leased network partners, CVIN (covering ~2,700 miles across California) started installation this month for the following two segments of approximately:
- 7 miles in Kings County.
- 3 miles in Santa Cruz County.
Last Mile Program Update
California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Updates
Keep in mind key application deadlines for the following:
- Broadband Infrastructure Grant Account – October 31, 2025
- Broadband Adoption Account – January 1, 2026
- Broadband Public Housing Account – January 1, 2026
- Tribal Technical Assistance Grant Program – January 1, 2026
Project Highlight
We have been hosting office hours and webinars for applicants and stakeholders to prepare for the upcoming Broadband Infrastructure Grant Account application deadline. Staff will continue with targeted outreach efforts to potential applicants until mid-October. Visit the CASF Broadband Infrastructure Grant Account website for more information, including content and recordings of instructional webinars. Find information about all of the California Advanced Services Fund programs and awards here.
Federal Funding Account Updates
The CPUC’s last mile Federal Funding Account Round 2 application window closed on June 2, 2025. Round 2 was held for the six counties of Calaveras, Contra Costa, Inyo, Monterey, Orange, and Trinity. The CPUC received 72 applications for approximately $600 million in grant requests. The grant team is conducting a holistic review and evaluation of these applications. Award updates are expected by the end of the year.
Visit the Federal Funding Account Application Resources and 2025 Data and Public Map webpages for more information.
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Updates
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD)
On September 10, the NTIA approved a request from California to submit its Final Proposal on November 21, 2025. The additional time will further maximize the Benefit of the Bargain (BOTB) by increasing competition and driving down costs for taxpayers through a second BOTB round of competitive bidding for Priority Broadband Projects and negotiations.
As the BEAD subgrantee proposal timing continues to evolve quickly, please check the BEAD Subgrantee Selection webpage regularly for the latest updates. Additionally, interested parties are encouraged to visit the CPUC’s BEAD Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) v6 and the BEAD Events webpage for webinar recordings and slides.
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 Everyone On 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 Updates
Digital Equity Stakeholder Briefing
Thank you for participating in the September 12th Digital Equity Stakeholder Briefing. We are grateful for your interest and continued engagement. We look forward to seeing you at our next briefing on October 29 at 2pm via Zoom.
If you missed the briefing, please find past meeting recordings, presentations, and minutes on Broadband for All: Past Events.
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 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
OBDL 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 here.
Upcoming Events
**Find materials from past events.
| Date | Time | Event | Locations and Links |
| Friday, October 17, 2025 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm | Middle-Mile Advisory Council Meeting (Hybrid) | Sacramento County Administration Center 700 H St., 1st Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814 Meeting Details |
| Friday, October 24, 2025 | 9:30 am – 11:30 am | California Broadband Council Meeting (Hybrid) | CoveredCA 1601 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815 Zoom |
| Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Digital Equity 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.
