Governor Newsom turns on largest public broadband network, California connects first rural community to internet

What you need to know: Governor Newsom today announced California is turning on the nation's largest public broadband network - connecting its first rural community and delivering fast, reliable, and affordable internet where it's needed most. The Bishop Paiute Tribe is now online, marking a major step toward closing the digital divide.

BISHOP, CA - Governor Gavin Newsom today announced a major milestone in California's effort to close the digital divide: the state has officially turned on the nation's largest open-access, public broadband network - and connected its first community.

The Bishop Paiute Tribe is now the first customer of California's Middle-Mile Broadband Network (MMBN), bringing high-speed, reliable internet to a rural and historically underserved community. Students were among the first to log on - experiencing dramatically faster speeds and new access to education, health care, and opportunity. With 35% of rural Americans lacking internet access, Governor Newsom's Broadband for All Initiative aims to bridge that divide, serving millions of Californians across all 58 counties.

We're not just talking about closing the digital divide - we're doing it. California is delivering fast, reliable, and affordable internet to communities across the state. That means more students with stronger access to educational resources, more families accessing critical health care, and more Californians having the opportunity to apply for good-paying jobs. This progress is real, it's measurable, and it's making a difference in people's lives.

Governor Gavin Newsom

"A lot of work has gone into this project," said Chairwoman Emma Williams, Bishop Paiute Tribe. "We're so happy to have this portion of the state's middle-mile network turned on so the people in our community who desperately need a reliable and affordable internet connection can access everything from schoolwork to telehealth appointments."

"As we reflect on a history of underinvestment in California Native communities, today marks a historic first as a California tribal nation enthusiastically leads the way to provide increased access and reliability to their local community," said Tribal Affairs Secretary Christina Snider-Ashtari. "California's partnership with the Bishop Paiute Tribe demonstrates the progress we can make when we work together to provide a brighter future for all Californians."

"Connecting the Bishop Paiute Tribe as the first customer of California's middle-mile broadband network illustrates true partnership and a commitment to serving all corners of California," said Government Operations Secretary Nick Maduros. "This milestone reflects the power of working hand in hand with tribal communities to build infrastructure that supports opportunity and long-term connectivity."

As the network continues to attract internet service providers, thousands of residents along the Eastern Sierra Nevada and millions more across the state will gain access to more options for reliable and affordable high-speed internet service.

A model for government-to-government relations, the groundbreaking partnership with the Tribe reflects California's commitment to tribal sovereignty and self-determination. As a tribally-owned internet service provider, the Bishop Paiute Tribe will independently manage and operate its broadband service, including setting pricing and service offerings for households on and off the reservation.

California closing the digital divide

The Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative ensures that California has a resilient, open-access broadband network enabling communities to connect to high-speed internet for generations to come. Once complete, last mile projects will take internet connections from middle-mile lines to homes, schools, businesses, and more.

This network is a key part of Governor Newsom's Build More, Faster agenda delivering infrastructure upgrades across the state. You can find more projects supporting your communities at build.ca.gov.

The new internet service in Bishop is made possible by connecting to a 423-mile segment of the MMBN that runs from Barstow to the Nevada border along Highway 395. Demonstrating California's innovative approach to infrastructure development, CDT acquired dormant fiber infrastructure and transformed it through major upgrades into a robust, high-capacity backbone now serving rural and tribal communities throughout the Eastern Sierra Nevada region.

Building the backbone of digital access

In July 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 156 to create an open-access middle-mile network to bring equitable high-speed broadband service to all Californians. SB 156 provides $3.25 billion to build the necessary infrastructure to bring internet connectivity to homes, businesses and community institutions. The design and construction of the middle-mile network is monitored by the Middle-Mile Advisory Committee (MMAC).

The Newsom administration has advanced innovative programs to close the digital divide, including programs for digital literacy and the construction of the MMBN. CDT is the lead state department for planning and constructing the middle-mile and the California Public Utilities Commission has awarded over $1.2 billion of last mile grants, which will benefit over 2 million Californians across all 58 counties. Tribes and local governments have played a critical role by leveraging their local planning and funding to fast-track construction.

California continues to make progress delivering over 8,000 miles of open-access broadband fiber, enabling more affordable and reliable broadband access for many of California's most underserved communities.