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Broadband infrastructure funding approved by the California Public Utilities Commission will support digital equity programs and planning.

Edited by Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

June 16, 2026 — The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has greenlit over $18.2 million in funding aimed at boosting broadband infrastructure, regional planning, and digital equity programs statewide, the agency announced last week.

The funding supports four major fiber-optic projects targeting rural Northern California, broadband planning initiatives across 16 counties, and digital literacy efforts in underserved communities, according to the CPUC’s June 11 release.

Nearly $14.7 million from the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Broadband Infrastructure Grant Account will fund fiber-to-the-home projects serving 460 previously unconnected homes across Lassen, Plumas, and Sierra counties, the release said.

The projects, led by Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications, aim to deliver symmetrical internet speeds up to 1 Gbps and affordable options for low-income households, including waived installation fees for five years, according to the CPUC.

The CPUC also awarded $3.4 million in CASF grants to six regional broadband consortia, spanning from San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties to Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Addressing the digital skills gap, the CPUC said nearly $200,000 was also allocated through the Digital Divide Grant Program to support technology access and digital literacy training for over 330 students, parents, and community members across Kern, Fresno, and the Central Valley.

Projects include providing Chromebooks, laptop devices, and cybersecurity training to low-income communities, the agency’s June 11 release stated.

Some AI tools also assisted in the crafting of this report.

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