The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in Santa Barbara County has a long history of building and partnering to secure essential infrastructure for its community, including water, wastewater treatment, and now broadband internet. The tribe first brought running water to its reservation in 1969 and established a wastewater treatment plant by 2000. These efforts are part of a broader commitment to environmental stewardship and self-governance.
Chairman Kenneth Kahn highlighted ongoing connectivity challenges on the reservation, noting that residents still struggle with unreliable cell service and internet access. “Let me see, 13,000 years divided by how many generations?” Kahn said when asked about his place among the Chumash generations. He emphasized that this perspective shapes the tribe’s approach to long-term planning.
The latest infrastructure project is the Chumash Fiber Network, funded through the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) Last Mile Federal Funding Account. This program supports communities in building local internet infrastructure necessary for fast and reliable service. The Santa Ynez Band received up to $4.7 million from this initiative to construct a fiber-optic network serving approximately 400 locations—an estimated 853 people—in Santa Barbara County.
The CPUC awarded the funding on August 22, 2024, under Resolution T-17833. The project covers six square miles and offers speeds up to five gigabits symmetrical with plans starting at $40 per month. The network uses passive optical fiber technology and connects with California’s Middle Mile Broadband Initiative.
Kahn explained that partnerships have been key throughout these projects: “You have companies that come in, interest groups that come in, and they develop relationships for now. We develop relationships for now, tomorrow, and the future.” The tribe works with organizations such as the National Congress of American Indians and collaborates with more than 14 Southern California tribes as well as local governments.
Additional support came from a $1.4 million grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in early 2025 for an eight-mile bike path connecting the reservation with nearby communities.
Broadband development also benefited from technical assistance grants: one from the national Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program for network engineering in 2022 and another from CPUC for strategic planning.
The need for resilient infrastructure was underscored during a wildfire in 2024 that destroyed aerial fiber lines; redundant systems at Chumash Casino Resort kept critical connections open during this emergency.
Reflecting on these efforts, Kahn noted both progress made and remaining challenges: “…sometimes I’ve got to turn the camera off because I just don’t have the bandwidth, and I’m just like, what year are we in?”
The Chumash Fiber Network is owned and operated by the tribe itself—a continuation of its longstanding practice of developing essential services independently while leveraging partnerships when needed.
