Last Mile Investments Now Reach More Than 2 Million Residents in All 58 Counties
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved four grants, totaling up to $21 million from the state’s Last Mile Federal Funding Account, aimed at expanding high-speed internet access in Contra Costa, Inyo, and Monterey counties.
With these new approvals, the Last Mile program now includes projects serving every county in California. The initiative is intended to increase broadband availability for education, work, tourism, and community resilience efforts across the state. According to CPUC President Alice Reynolds, “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.”
The Last Mile program has so far allocated $1.23 billion through 122 approved projects. These investments span all of California’s 58 counties and are expected to benefit about two million residents. The projects collectively propose building approximately 7,500 miles of fiber-optic cable lines and have granted funding to 47 entities statewide.
The newly approved projects will be managed by the California Broadband Alliance (CBA), Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), and Stimulus Technologies. They will expand broadband infrastructure in rural and underserved communities by providing reliable internet access to around 1,752 locations that currently lack service. These efforts are projected to benefit approximately 64,000 people—including households, small businesses, and public institutions—and include commitments for affordable plans such as participation in programs like California LifeLine.
In Contra Costa County, CCTA will implement two separate initiatives: one for West Contra Costa County and another for East Contra Costa County. In Inyo County, Stimulus Technologies will carry out the Inyo-5 Project. Monterey County’s Surfnet-Salinas Project will be led by CBA.
Representatives from grant recipients emphasized the potential impact of these investments:
Kiran Bengard of CBA said: “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.”
Tim Haile of CCTA added: “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.”
Nathan Whittacre of Stimulus Technologies commented: “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… 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.”
The Last Mile Federal Funding Account was established under Senate Bill 156 with a focus on constructing internet infrastructure where there is no current access to reliable service.
For further details about approved awards or interactive maps showing project locations throughout California’s counties visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.
