The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved four grants totaling up to $21 million from the state’s Last Mile Federal Funding Account (FFA), aiming to expand high-speed internet access in Contra Costa, Inyo, and Monterey counties.
With this decision, the CPUC reports that Last Mile FFA projects now reach communities in all 58 California counties. The program is designed to improve connectivity for education, work, tourism, and other needs, with a focus on underserved areas.
“This program has been transformational, investing funds for broadband infrastructure projects across the state to provide high-quality service where it would otherwise not have been possible, bringing us closer to achieving our state’s Broadband For All objectives,” said CPUC President Alice Reynolds.
According to data from the CPUC, the Last Mile FFA initiative has so far resulted in $1.23 billion in approved grants for 122 broadband projects statewide. These efforts are expected to benefit about 2 million Californians and involve construction of approximately 7,500 miles of fiber-optic cable. The average project covers 37 square miles and receives about $10 million in funding.
The newly approved projects will be carried out by the California Broadband Alliance, Contra Costa Transportation Authority, and Stimulus Technologies. They are set to bring new broadband infrastructure to rural and suburban communities that currently lack reliable service. In total, these four grants aim to expand access at 1,752 locations serving around 64,000 residents—including households, small businesses, and community institutions—and include commitments for affordable broadband plans.
The specific projects are as follows: CCTA-West Contra Costa County Project and CCTA-East Contra Costa County Project (Contra Costa Transportation Authority); Inyo-5 Project (Stimulus Technologies); Surfnet-Salinas Project (California Broadband Alliance).
Leaders from each organization emphasized the potential impact of these investments.
“California Broadband Alliance (CBA) is grateful for the CPUC’s continued investment in projects that bring reliable, affordable broadband to communities across California. CBA is doing our part by leading public-private partnership projects that empower local ISPs and underserved communities. We look forward to working with Surfnet Communications, our ISP partner for this grant, to use these funds to help close the digital divide in Salinas and the greater Monterey region,” said Kiran Bengard, Operations Manager at California Broadband Alliance.
“This investment will ensure Contra Costa County residents have the reliable broadband access they need to fully participate in today’s economy. By expanding Las Mile infrastructure, we’re helping close long-standing connectivity gaps and ensuring more households can access education, healthcare, and job opportunities,” stated Tim Haile, Executive Director of Contra Costa Transportation Authority.
“Stimulus Technologies has proudly served the Lone Pine community since 1956, and we are excited to expand our network into the long-underserved Alabama Hills area in Inyo County, one of the most sparsely populated counties in the United States. For decades, the region’s challenging terrain and low population density have made broadband expansion difficult, leaving many residents without reliable connectivity. This project represents a meaningful step toward closing the digital divide and ensuring rural Californians have access to high-speed broadband that supports economic opportunity, public safety, and quality of life,” said Nathan Whittacre, Chief Executive Officer of Stimulus Technologies.
The Last Mile Federal Funding Account was established through Senate Bill 156 as a way to support construction of broadband infrastructure in areas lacking reliable internet service. The program aims to help Californians access essential online services and stay connected during emergencies.
