Building Your Community’s Digital Future: Apply Now for the CASF Consortia Grant

In communities across California, the ability to connect to reliable internet is shaping everything from education to economic opportunity to access to essential services. Yet many neighborhoods, rural regions, and Tribal lands still do not have the broadband planning support they need to move projects forward. That is where the CASF Rural and Urban Regional Broadband Consortia Grant Account comes in.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) officially opened the new application window, creating an opportunity for organizations across the state to build long-term digital strategies for their communities. This window carries special significance because it includes a new pathway for Tribal consortia. For the first time, California Native American Tribes can apply to form and lead their own broadband consortia, shaping the planning and partnership work needed to bring better connectivity to Tribal communities.

This is an important step toward digital equity. Tribal communities often face some of the deepest broadband gaps, and local leadership plays a major role in closing them. 

“Creating a dedicated pathway for Tribally led consortia supports tribal sovereignty and ensures that solutions are designed by the communities who know their own needs best,” said CPUC Commissioner Darcie L. Houck. “It gives California Tribes the ability to direct their own broadband future.”

The Consortia Grant Account helps eligible groups develop the groundwork necessary for broadband deployment. Funding supports activities like local broadband planning, coordinating with providers and public agencies, conducting community outreach, and identifying areas that lack sufficient service. Many communities rely on this support to organize their efforts before construction funding becomes available.

Whether you are a city government, a county, a community-based organization, a Tribal organization, or a group of local partners exploring how to form a consortium for the first time, this application window is your chance to take action. The CPUC is encouraging both new and existing consortia to apply and expand their work.

For organizations applying for the first time, the CPUC’s advice is clear. “Start by bringing together the partners in your region who care about broadband access and begin the conversation,” said Selena Huang, Program Manager at the CPUC’s Communications Division. “Your application does not need to be perfect. What matters most is a strong commitment to serving your community and a clear vision for how you will work together.”

The application window is now open, and all eligible groups are encouraged to begin preparing their materials.

Broadband is essential for every Californian. This grant gives communities the chance to take control of their digital future, plan for long-term connectivity, and make progress toward closing the digital divide in a way that reflects local needs, voices, and leadership.

Now is the moment to act. If your organization is ready to build a stronger digital foundation for your region, apply for the CASF Rural and Urban Regional Broadband Consortia Grant during the newly opened December 19th, 2025 window. Your planning today can shape the opportunities your community will have for years to come.

Visit CASF Rural and Urban Regional Broadband Consortia Account webpage to learn more.

By Taseen Shamim, Public Information Officer