Community Spotlight

Broadband for All Update

Thank you for tuning in to Q2 California Broadband Council Meeting

The second California Broadband Council (CBC) meeting of the year took place on Friday, April 24 at the Sacramento County Administration Center and on Zoom. CDT and California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) provided updates to the Council on the implementation of the Broadband for All Action Plan, Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative, Last Mile programs, and Adoption Initiatives. The meeting’s Member Spotlight featured the California Emerging Technology Fund explaining details of their Public Benefit Agreements related to the Verizon/Frontier Merger. Our Community Spotlight featured CalPrivacy’s Delete Request & Opt-out Platform (DROP), where California residents can request the deletion of their data from over 500 data brokers in one request and have more control over their personal information.

To find past meeting recordings, presentations, and minutes, access Broadband for All: Past Events. 

Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative Update

City of Fort Bragg Joint-Build Middle-Mile Installation Complete

This month, CDT and American Dark Fiber (ADF) completed installation on a four-mile segment of the MMBN in the City of Fort Bragg. This segment runs along State Route 1 through the heart of the city.

This route was built in close coordination with Fort Bragg’s own last-mile infrastructure work happening simultaneously. The city is now positioned to extend fiber connectivity directly to homes, schools, and businesses throughout the community.

“Every community in California deserves access to reliable broadband,” said Fort Bragg Economic Development Manager Sarah McCormick. “Approaching broadband as a public utility will help ensure our community benefits from this historic investment at affordable rates.”

First Network Huts Placed

This month, CDT reached another important operational milestone by placing two network huts on their prepared foundation sites, one in Monterey County and one in Los Angeles County.

Network huts are small, secure, climate-controlled buildings placed along fiber routes at strategic intervals. They house the electronics and equipment needed to operate and maintain the network, allowing signals to travel reliably across long distances.

As hut installations continue across California, this work remains central to establishing the physical backbone that the MMBN needs to function.

Hut Placement Approved in Auburn

This month, a new hut lease agreement was signed, allowing CDT to place a network hut on municipal property in Auburn. Due to limited availability on the state right-of-way, MMBI had to leverage an alternate location to ensure it is placed in a safe and secure location along that fiber path. Securing lease agreements like this one is a critical step in building out the network’s physical infrastructure, and CDT is expecting the remaining 15 leases to be signed in the coming weeks as negotiations and lease agreements are finalized.

Installation Updates as of April 27

The Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative (MMBI) continues to make progress across the state. Below is a snapshot of the network’s status as of April 2026:

MMBI by the Numbers

Total network miles: 8,209

All 58 counties reached

Miles in preconstruction phase: 2,919

Miles in installation phase: 4,867

Miles Ready-to-Connect: 423

9 tribal partnerships and engagements

Of the entire network, 423 miles are ready to connect, 4,867 miles are in installation, and 2,919 miles remain in preconstruction.

Breakdown of Updates as of April 2026:

Last Mile Program Update

California Advanced Services Fund (CASF)

Current program highlights follow. For the most up to date information, please visit the California Advanced Services Fund website.

Broadband Grant Opportunities and Updates

Updated California Interactive Broadband Map and Public Survey

The California Interactive Broadband Map has been updated to display end-of-year 2024 broadband availability and adoption data collected from internet service providers by the CPUC. The Map features a Public Feedback survey that allows Californians to test their internet speeds and submit information on broadband availability and subscription levels at their addresses. The public survey is continuously open, and you can provide feedback at any time. Learn more: CPUC Invites Public Feedback on State Broadband Data and Mapping.   

Last Mile Federal Funding Account

California has invested $1.23 billion through last mile Federal Funding Account grants to 122 broadband infrastructure projects across California. These investments are bringing affordable broadband access directly to rural, tribal, and low-income communities where high-speed internet has been out of reach.

For the most up to date information, visit the CPUC’s webpage at Federal Funding Account Recommendations and Awards, which includes this recent presentation:  Federal Funding Account Successes (March 2026).  

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD)   

California awaits updates from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) about approval of the state’s BEAD Final Proposal for awards to applicants selected through the BEAD Subgrantee Selection Process.

For the most up to date information, please visit the California BEAD Final Proposal webpage.

---

State Digital Equity Plan Updates

April Digital Equity Community of Practice Recap

Thanks to all the digital inclusion partners and stakeholders who attended the April Digital Equity Community of Practice. We are pleased to hear from a variety of subject matter experts on critical topics, including:

• Artificial Intelligence and Digital Equity, CDT Chief Technology Innovation Officer Vera Zakem  
• Progress on CETF’s Digital Inclusion Public Benefit Merger Agreements with Verizon, CETF Senior Vice President Kat Zigmont
• California State Library’s Digital Literacy and Access Opportunity, Broadband Program Manager Josh Chisom

Participants also heard from CPUC on the status of the California LifeLine Home Broadband Pilot Program and CDT about tools, resources, and future grant opportunities to support digital inclusion efforts. Register for the next Community of Practice on Thursday, May 28 at 10:30 a.m. via Zoom.

If you missed this meeting, please find past meeting recordings, presentations, and minutes on Broadband for All: Past Events. 

Upcoming Events

**Find materials from past events. See future calendar events.

Date	Time	Event	Locations and Links
Thursday, May 28, 2026	10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	Digital Equity Community of Practice (Virtual)	Register on Zoom
Friday, July 17, 2026	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, July 24, 2026	9:30 am – 11:30 am	California Broadband Council Meeting (Hybrid)	Sacramento County Administration Center 700 H St., 1st Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814 Zoom Webinar

Job Opportunities

Career Executive Assignment (C.E.A) – Assistant Deputy Director for the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative (MMBI) – Final Filing Deadline 05/11/26

CDT is seeking an experienced, visionary leader to join our team as Assistant Deputy Director for the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative (MMBI). This Career Executive Assignment (C.E.A) role is central to shaping California’s future by expanding equitable, open-access broadband infrastructure across the state.

Reporting to the Deputy Director of MMBI, the Assistant Deputy Director plays a strategic and operational leadership role in the planning, governance, and execution of California’s open-access middle-mile broadband network. This is a high-impact position requiring collaboration across state agencies, private sector partners, and community stakeholders to ensure that all Californians have access to reliable, high-speed internet.

Anyone interested can find learn more at the following link: CalCareers

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