Broadband for All Monthly Update
Broadband for All Update
June 2025
California Department of Technology’s (CDT) Broadband Update provides the latest information about 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
Digital Navigator Program Helps Small Business Go Cashless
The Hoopa Valley Utilities District and their ownership and operation of Acorn Wireless, an internet service that has grown in the region to offer connectivity, has increased availability of internet access for the Hoopa Valley Tribe.
In tandem, and with the support of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance’s National Digital Navigator Corps grant, Abraham Camez, a digital navigator for the Hoopa Valley Tribe, designed a tailored training course to teach Hoopa vendors how to use Square Point of Sale (POS) System software and iPads for cashless transactions. This program empowered local vendors in the Hoopa Valley to modernize their small businesses and learn the digital skills to manage operations and ultimately grow their customer base.
Efforts like these show how increased internet access and tangible, community-centered solutions build digital and economic resilience.
More about this program can be found here: How Hoopa Valley’s Digital Navigator Is helping Small Businesses Go Cashless.
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), and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) programs.
To find past meeting recordings, presentations, and minutes, access Broadband for All: Past Events.
Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative Update
California Department of Technology Hosts Q2 Stakeholder Engagement Meeting
California Department of Technology (CDT) hosted its second (Q2) Stakeholder Engagement meeting of the year on May 02, 2025. The Deputy Director of California’s Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative (MMBI) and MMBI’s Project Delivery Manager provided stakeholders updates on network development progress and new and expanded partnerships. They also shared feedback received from Federal Funding Account (FFA) grantees and the methodology behind the MMBI FFA price caps. These meetings are designed for stakeholders and partners to get project updates and provide an open forum to be able to ask questions tailored to their respective interest in MMBI. For more information about these meetings, you can contact us by sending an email to middlemile@state.ca.gov.
Special Middle-Mile Advisory Committee Meeting in May
During the April 18th Middle-Mile Advisory Committee (MMAC) meeting, some Members requested the opportunity to hear directly from the RFI2 construction partners on project status. The Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative (MMBI) facilitated an additional MMAC meeting on Wednesday, May 28, at 2:00 pm, at the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors building in Sacramento, as well as on Zoom. The MMAC members had the opportunity to hear the latest updates and overall status from MMBI’s RFI2 partners. We continue to value your involvement. For more information about the MMAC.
Installation Updates
The installation of the MMBI network continues across the state. More than 3,800 miles of MMBI network have gone to installation through CDT’s joint build, Indefeasible Rights of Use (IRU)/lease, and purchase partnerships, and with Caltrans. Here is the breakdown of updates for May 2025.
Caltrans Construction Highlights:
Caltrans continues to make progress moving from planning to installation on nearly 270 miles of the network as projects move from pre-construction to installation. Installation started this month on an approximately 6-mile segment in San Diego County along State Route 54.
Last Mile Program Update
Federal Funding Account
Expedited, Limited Six County Application Window. The CPUC will provide updated information soon on the last mile Federal Funding Account applications in the six counties of Calaveras, Contra Costa, Inyo, Monterey, Orange, and Trinity. More information is available on the Application Resources and 2025 Data and Public Map pages.
California Advanced Services Fund
The next application deadline for Broadband Adoption Account, Broadband Public Housing Account and Tribal Technical Assistance Grant Program is July 1, 2025. The 2025 application deadline for the Broadband Infrastructure Grant Account is October 31, 2025. Find out more about the California Advanced Services Fund programs.
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program
Important Announcement
On June 6, 2025, the National Telecommunications Information Agency issued a public notice that requires states to revise their BEAD subgrantee selection process. CPUC is currently evaluating the new requirements and will provide additional updates on the BEAD Subgrantee Selection webpage when available.
NTIA Policy Notice: BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice | BroadbandUSA
More information can be found on the CPUC BEAD Program webpage. Please make sure to subscribe here to receive BEAD email announcements including upcoming webinar dates.
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
On May 9, 2025, the California Department of Technology received formal notification from the Trump Administration that funding for our $70 million State Digital Equity Capacity Grant award was being terminated. Effective immediately, the California Digital Equity Program (CalDEP) request for application process is suspended until further notice. We are disheartened by this news and remain committed to fighting for broadband for all Californians.
Digital Equity Resource Finder
The Digital Equity (DE) 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. 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
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 here.
Upcoming Events
| Date | Time | Event | Locations and Links |
| Friday, July 18, 2025 | 10:00 – 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) | CoveredCA 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.
