The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved almost $32.5 million in grants to support a variety of organizations and broadband projects supporting underserved communities across the state.
The announcement says that $28 million will support three infrastructure projects and is part of the $2 billion Last Mile Federal Funding Account grant program. The grant program aims to expand broadband access for underserved and unserved communities across California.
The largest share of this funding — $25 million — will go to Federal Funding Account grants to provide last-mile services in Kings County and benefit approximately 5,869 residents. The second is for $3 million for a project in Ventura County. It will benefit 2,377 residents.
In addition to that $28 million, the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Broadband Adoption Account approved grants for $4,455,792 for seven grants to support digital literacy and broadband adoption initiatives.
The grants will provide digital literacy training to 4,140 participants and broadband subscriptions to 13,058 individuals from low-income, disadvantaged communities and other communities in California.
The organizations benefiting from the grants are the California Emerging Technology Fund, the Economic Opportunities Commission, International Rescue Committee – Oakland, the Rural Prosperity Center, Swords to Plowshares, and United Way of Central Eastern California.
“We are making great strides in achieving our Broadband for All objectives,” CPUC President Alice Reynolds said in the announcement. “The projects approved today highlight the state’s commitment to connecting Californians that lack access to affordable, high-quality broadband infrastructure, as well as supporting those Californians that struggle with service affordability and digital literacy.”
Last month, the CPUC approved $225 million in grants for last-mile broadband connectivity. The awards, the tenth round of funding in the $2 billion Last Mile Federal Funding Account grant program, pushed the total broadband grants allocated by California in 2024 to more than $1 billion.
