Staff from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently participated in an event with Cruzio Internet in Santa Cruz, celebrating the completion of the Equal Access Summits to the Sea project. The initiative aims to deliver reliable, high-speed internet service to areas along California’s Central Coast that have historically lacked adequate connectivity.
The project is funded through the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Broadband Infrastructure Grant Account, which supports efforts to expand broadband access in underserved regions. With funding approved earlier this year, Cruzio Internet has implemented a hybrid fiber-powered fixed wireless network intended to connect hundreds of homes across challenging terrain stretching from San Mateo County to Monterey County.
For many residents in these counties—San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Monterey—limited internet access has affected students’ ability to participate in online learning, seniors’ capacity for virtual health appointments, and small businesses’ operations. The Equal Access Summits to the Sea project will serve 759 previously unserved households across more than 1,300 square miles.
Bringing broadband infrastructure to rural and mountainous locations can be prohibitively expensive without public investment. CASF funding plays a crucial role by enabling projects like this one. Cruzio Internet has operated locally for over three decades and collaborated with CPUC on the grant application process.
James Hackett, Chief Operating Officer at Cruzio Internet, described the importance of securing CASF support: “Applying for CASF funding was not just an opportunity. It was essential to making the project possible.”
Maria Ellis, Director of Broadband Initiatives at CPUC, explained that “the CASF Broadband Infrastructure Grant Account helps internet providers, tribes, cooperatives, and local governments pay for the physical equipment and infrastructure needed to deliver internet service, such as fiber lines, wireless equipment, or a combination of both.”
The CPUC allocated $5.65 million from CASF funds for this project. The resulting network includes faster home internet with speeds higher than those currently available for many residents; a backbone middle-mile connection facilitating data transfer between regions; new wireless hubs strategically placed throughout the service area; and extended access into remote or fire-prone locations where previous disasters or terrain made connectivity difficult.
Once operational, this network is expected to bring gigabit-capable speeds where no reliable broadband exists today; improve communications during emergencies like wildfires or storms; enable other providers to utilize the middle-mile network; and broaden affordable internet options across four counties. The design also emphasizes resilience with equipment built for extreme conditions and backup power sources.
Projects supported by CASF are considered models for other communities facing similar geographic or service challenges in California. Interested groups are encouraged by CPUC staff to review eligibility requirements and successful case studies when considering their own broadband expansion plans.
For further information or technical assistance regarding applications to CASF programs, communities can contact CPUC staff at CASF_Application_Questions@cpuc.ca.gov.
