Last Mile Investments Now Reach More Than 2 Million Residents in All 58 Counties
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved four new grants totaling up to $21 million from the state’s Last Mile Federal Funding Account. The funding will support broadband expansion projects in Contra Costa, Inyo, and Monterey counties.
With this latest approval, Last Mile investments now cover every county in California. According to the CPUC, these projects are intended to improve internet access for school, work, tourism, and other activities across the state. They also aim to benefit communities with environmental and social justice concerns.
“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.
So far, the Last Mile program has resulted in $1.23 billion in approved grants for 122 broadband projects throughout all 58 counties. The initiative is expected to benefit two million Californians and proposes about 7,500 miles of new fiber-optic cable lines. Forty-seven entities have received project grants under this program.
The newly approved projects will be carried out by the California Broadband Alliance, Contra Costa Transportation Authority, and Stimulus Technologies. These organizations plan to expand high-speed internet access to 1,752 locations that currently lack reliable service and reach approximately 64,000 residents—including households, small businesses, and community institutions—in rural and underserved areas. The projects include commitments such as offering low-cost broadband plans and participating in affordability programs like California LifeLine.
In Contra Costa County, two projects will be led by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority: CCTA-West Contra Costa County Project and CCTA-East Contra Costa County Project. In Inyo County, Stimulus Technologies will implement the Inyo-5 Project. In Monterey County, the California Broadband Alliance will lead the Surfnet-Salinas Project.
These efforts are designed to connect local communities with California’s open-access middle-mile network.
Representatives from each grant recipient commented on how these investments will impact their regions:
“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 of 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,” said Tim Haile 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 of Stimulus Technologies.
The Last Mile Federal Funding Account was established through Senate Bill 156 as a way for California to build out internet infrastructure where it is still lacking or unreliable. The goal is for more Californians—especially those living in remote or underserved areas—to gain better access to essential online services during emergencies or daily life.
