SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom on July 17 announced that California has nearly tripled the operational reach of the state’s Middle-Mile Broadband Network, the state-built network that brings fast, reliable, and affordable internet to communities that don’t have it. The new 1,250-mile operational segment is now ready to connect, bringing the network closer to becoming the largest of its kind in the country. Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, California is building the infrastructure needed to bring affordable high-speed internet to all Californians.

The 1,250-mile operational segment forms a continuous backbone that spans from San Jose south along the Central Coast to Los Angeles, east to Barstow, and north through an interconnection point before extending up to Modoc County in the state’s far northeast corner. The milestone builds on momentum from April, when the Governor announced that the Bishop Paiute Tribe became the network’s first customer, connected along the Highway 395 segment.

This expansion proves that California’s Middle-Mile Broadband Network is open for business. It sends a clear market signal to the companies and communities building the last-mile — the final stretch of cable that reaches into homes and businesses — that the infrastructure they need is ready right now. That includes projects funded through the state’s Federal Funding Account (FFA) program, a $2 billion grant program administered by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to fund “last-mile” broadband infrastructure projects in underserved communities, as well as commercial internet providers.

 (Photo source: Gavin Newsom’s Newsroom)