The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved $3.29 million in grants from the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Broadband Adoption Account to support 21 projects aimed at expanding digital literacy and broadband access across California.
These grants will fund 18 digital literacy projects and three broadband access initiatives, collectively serving an estimated 16,145 people. The projects are expected to provide digital literacy training for 5,345 participants and deliver broadband access to another 10,800 individuals in underserved communities throughout Alameda, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Ventura, and Yolo counties.
Organizations receiving funding include the American GI Forum Education Foundation of Santa Maria for veteran-focused training in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties; Cyber-Seniors for programs serving older adults in multiple counties; Daly City Peninsula Partnership Collaborative for services tailored to seniors, immigrants, and low-income residents in Northern San Mateo County; Genesis Community Foundation for eight projects targeting various vulnerable groups in the Sacramento region; HOPE Center of Orange County for individuals experiencing homelessness; International Rescue Committee offices in San Jose and San Diego for refugee and immigrant training; and Monterey Bay Economic Partnership for establishing free public broadband sites.
Each digital literacy project will offer at least eight hours of instruction per participant and assist with broadband subscription enrollment when appropriate. The three broadband access projects will create community hubs offering free public Wi-Fi and equipment.
“California has made significant investments in deploying broadband infrastructure, but delivering on the statewide goal of Broadband for All also requires lowering the barriers many Californians face in accessing internet services or using the internet effectively,” said Commissioner Darcie L. Houck. “These awards will support organizations across 14 counties in conducting digital literacy initiatives serving critical, vulnerable populations and enabling public access to broadband in communities with significant need.”
In addition to these commissioner-approved grants, the July 1, 2025 application cycle included 92 additional projects that met ministerial review criteria. These projects will receive up to $10.1 million from the Adoption Account. Recipients include nonprofit organizations, community-based groups, senior centers, schools, libraries, as well as local governments such as Irwindale and Long Beach cities along with Napa and Sierra counties.
Together with today’s approvals by CPUC commissioners—when combined with ministerial awards—the July 2025 grant cycle totals up to $13.4 million invested through the Adoption Account. Across all funded efforts during this cycle: nearly 22,800 Californians will receive digital literacy training; over 24,200 people will gain new or improved broadband access; more than 5,100 new subscriptions are anticipated.
The CASF Broadband Adoption Account was created to boost publicly available or after-school broadband access while promoting digital inclusion—especially among low-income communities and those facing socioeconomic challenges connecting online. For fiscal year 2025–2026, CPUC allocated $30 million toward these efforts statewide.
Grant recipients must begin their work within six months after submitting a consent form and complete it within two years. They are required to submit regular progress reports to ensure accountability.
For further details about CPUC’s role regulating utilities or its other programs visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.
