Connecting Mountains to Coast: How a Local Idea Became a Blueprint for Broadband Access

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December 17, 2025 - 

Staff from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently joined the team at Cruzio Internet in Santa Cruz for a celebratory event. It was more than a ceremonial moment. It marked the completion of the Equal Access Summits to the Sea project, an effort to bring reliable, high-speed internet to communities that have waited far too long to be connected.

The project is one of the latest examples of how the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Broadband Infrastructure Grant Account is helping communities build a stronger digital future. With CASF funding approved earlier this year, Cruzio is delivering a hybrid, fiber-powered fixed wireless network that will connect hundreds of homes across rugged terrain from San Mateo County down to Monterey County.

Example of the rugged terrain in Santa Cruz County

The path from idea to approval to groundbreaking shows how CASF is designed to work and how local vision paired with state investment can make broadband access a reality.

A Region Left Waiting for Reliable Internet

For many families along California’s Central Coast, access to internet service is a daily challenge. Students struggle to log on for school. Seniors cannot rely on virtual health visits. Small businesses lose sales when internet service drops or disappears altogether.

The Equal Access Summits to the Sea project reaches these exact residents, serving 759 previously unserved households across more than 1,300 square miles in San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Monterey Counties. 

However, building reliable broadband in rural and mountainous areas is costly, and without public investment, many of these locations would remain disconnected. That is where CASF plays a vital role.

How CASF Funding Makes Projects Like This Possible

Cruzio, a locally owned internet provider serving Santa Cruz County for more than 30 years, understands the community’s needs and worked with the CPUC to apply for a grant through the CASF Broadband Infrastructure Account. 

For Cruzio, applying for CASF funding was not just an opportunity. It was essential to making the project possible. Cruzio Chief Operating Officer James Hackett shared why the company decided to pursue the grant and what the application process was like.

James Hackett, Chief Operating Officer at Cruzio

Why We Applied & What the Process Was Like

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. 

Maria Ellis, Director of Broadband Initiatives at the CPUC explains the program and who can apply.

Maria Ellis, Director of Broadband Initiatives at the CPUC

Overview of CASF Infrastructure Account

The CPUC approved $5.65 million in CASF funding to support an Equal Access Summits to the Sea network that will deliver:

  • Faster home internet with download and upload speeds well above what many residents have today.

  • A major backbone connection, known as a middle-mile network, that moves large amounts of data between regions and can also be used by other internet providers.

  • Dozens of new wireless hubs, which are strategically placed connection points that help deliver service to more homes.

  • Internet access in hard-to-reach and fire-prone areas, including places where rough terrain or past disasters made service nearly impossible.

Together, these elements made the project competitive and allowed it to qualify for the highest level of CASF support.

Why This Project Matters

Once completed, the Equal Access Summits to the Sea network will:

  • Bring gigabit-capable internet speeds to families who currently have no reliable broadband option.

  • Improve communication during wildfires, storms, and other emergencies.

  • Allow other providers to use the middle-mile network, encouraging more connectivity in the region.

  • Expand affordable internet options across four counties.

The network is also designed with resilience in mind. Equipment will be built to withstand extreme heat and storms and will include backup power to help keep connections running during outages.

This is exactly the type of project the CASF program was created to support. It shows how community-driven solutions, paired with state investment, can close the digital divide.

A Blueprint for Your Community

This project offers a clear model for other communities across California. Whether the challenge is mountainous terrain, wildfire risk, or long-standing gaps in service, CASF can help turn plans into construction on the ground.

Communities considering a broadband expansion can:

  • Examine successful projects like this one for guidance

From the mountains to the coast, projects like this show how targeted investment can close the digital divide. For communities ready to take the next step, CASF is ready to help.

CPUC staff at the Cruzio’s Summits by the Sea event

By Taseen Shamim, Public Information Officer

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