The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians is advancing its efforts to improve essential services for its community, with a new focus on expanding broadband internet access. The tribe, based in Santa Barbara County, has a history of building infrastructure that supports sustainability and self-governance.
In 1969, the Chumash raised funds to bring running water to their reservation. By 2000, they had established a wastewater treatment plant aimed at conserving water resources. Over the years, the tribe has also formed partnerships focused on energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.
Reliable internet connectivity remains a challenge for many residents. Chairman Kenneth Kahn described his experience with limited cell service: “Let me see, 13,000 years divided by how many generations?” he said when asked about his generational ties to the tribe. This perspective shapes the tribe’s approach to infrastructure development.
The latest initiative involves constructing the Chumash Fiber Network through funding from the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) Last Mile Federal Funding Account program. The program assists communities in building local internet infrastructure needed for high-speed connections. Through this effort, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians received up to $4.7 million to serve approximately 400 locations and an estimated 853 people in Santa Barbara County with fiber-optic internet.
The project aims not only to provide affordable and fast internet but also to strengthen tribal control over digital resources for future generations. The network will offer speeds up to five gigabits per second using passive optical network technology, with entry-level plans starting at $40 per month.
The tribe’s broader strategy includes developing educational and cultural facilities such as a museum opened in May 2025 and constructing new homes on land acquired through federal legislation in 2019. These homes will allow members to return to ancestral lands while benefiting from improved utilities like broadband.
Partnerships are central to these projects. “You have companies that come in, interest groups that come in, and they develop relationships for now. We develop relationships for now, tomorrow, and the future,” said Chairman Kahn.
Collaboration extends beyond internal efforts; it includes working with other tribes through organizations like the National Congress of American Indians and regional coalitions. Coordination with state agencies allows cost-sharing on large projects such as broadband expansion while maintaining tribal oversight.
A significant moment came during a California Tribal Roundtable meeting in 2021 when participants discussed long-term goals related to connectivity gaps on the reservation. Following this discussion, technical assistance grants were secured from both national programs and CPUC initiatives for planning and engineering support.
Wildfire risk is another factor influencing infrastructure decisions. After fires destroyed aerial fiber lines during a major sporting event in 2024—affecting thousands of acres—the need for resilient underground systems became more apparent. The Chumash Fire Department continues emergency preparedness work both within the reservation and surrounding areas.
Reflecting on ongoing challenges with connectivity since those wildfires, Kahn said: “…sometimes I’ve got to turn the camera off because I just don’t have the bandwidth, and I’m just like, what year are we in?”
The CPUC awarded up to $4.7 million for this project under Resolution T-17833 on August 22, 2024 (https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/industries-and-topics/internet-and-phone/broadband-implementation-for-california/federal-funding-account). The project covers six square miles within Santa Barbara County (https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/-/media/cpuc-website/divisions/communications-division/documents/federal-funding-account/final-awards-maps/santa-barbara-county-final-award-map.pdf), connecting hundreds of households via fiber-optic lines linked into California’s Middle Mile Broadband Initiative (https://middle-mile-broadband-initiative.cdt.ca.gov/).
These steps continue decades-long efforts by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians toward community resilience through investment in vital infrastructure.
