Funder: California Public Utilities Commission
Due Dates (Anticipated): November 2027 (Registration) | November 2027 (Application)
Funding Amounts: Up to 100% of construction costs; 60% baseline for eligible areas with connectivity; 18–24-month completion timelines
Summary: Subsidizes middle-mile and last-mile broadband infrastructure to expand service in unserved California areas.
Key Information: Applications are accepted only through the grant portal, with advance registration required.
Description
The California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Broadband Infrastructure Grant Account is administered by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) under Public Utilities Code section 281. It subsidizes infrastructure deployment to extend California’s broadband network into unserved areas, where no fixed facility-based provider offers service at least 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream.
Projects may use wireline or wireless technology and must deliver at least 100 Mbps downstream and 20 Mbps upstream, or the current FCC standard if higher. Middle-mile funding must support last-mile serviceable locations. The program prioritizes areas with no connectivity or very slow service, followed by low-income areas. Its broader goals include economic growth, job creation, and access to the social benefits of advanced communications.
