July 29, 2025
California Surges Forward to Close the Digital Divide in
North Coast Tribal Communities
Why it Matters: California continues progress building over 8,000 miles of Middle-Mile Broadband Infrastructure to close the digital divide.
Klamath, CA — Back-to-back ribbon cuttings with Vero Networks and Yurok Telecommunications will add more than 70 miles of open-access fiber, advancing Governor Newsom’s $3 billion Broadband for All agenda. With these projects underway, the state now has close to 4000 miles of fiber under construction.
“We can all agree that fast, affordable internet is not a luxury—it’s a necessity,” said State Chief Information Officer and CDT Director Liana Bailey-Crimmins. “These two critical North-Coast projects will ensure that residents in these rural communities have the same digital access and opportunities—because where you live should not be a barrier to being digitally connected. We are building today for a better tomorrow.”
In Klamath, leaders of the Yurok Tribe and Yurok Telecommunications (YTel) joined the California Department of Technology (CDT), and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to break ground on approximately 50 miles of middle-mile broadband fiber spanning Yurok ancestral lands from Klamath through Crescent City to Weitchpec.
“We can all agree that fast, affordable internet is not a luxury—it’s a necessity,” “These two critical North-Coast projects will ensure that residents in these rural communities have the same digital access and opportunities—because where you live should not be a barrier to being digitally connected. We are building today for a better tomorrow.”
— Liana Bailey-Crimmins, State Chief Information Officer and CDT Director
Leaders of the Yurok Tribe, YTel, and CDT gather for a ribbon cutting outside the Yurok Tribal headquarters.
Yurok Tribe Chairman Joseph James speaks at the ribbon-cutting event in the Yurok Tribe’s council chambers..
“Today is a day of celebration, a milestone within the tribe. We're installing our own fiber with our own team here” . "We're going to continue to build our workforce out as it's always been the full vision of tribal council to provide infrastructure for our tribe."
—Joseph L. James, Yurok Tribal Chairman
“Today is a day of celebration, a milestone within the tribe. We’re installing our own fiber with our own team here,” said Joseph L. James, Yurok Tribal Chairman. “We’re going to continue to build our workforce out as it’s always been the full vision of tribal council to provide infrastructure for our tribe.”
Constructed by 100 percent tribally owned YTel Corporation, the segment will interlock with joint-build projects by the Karuk and Hoopa Valley tribes, creating a resilient, tribally driven digital corridor in the Northwest corner of the State.
It’s not just one project or one initiative,” added YTel Chief Executive Officer Jon Walton. “It’s really a story about how we’re trying to connect the community as a whole and not just on the reservation, but in the surrounding communities as well, which I think is really indicative of where the Yurok Tribe is going.”
Additionally, CDT and Vero Networks celebrated a 24-mile joint-build project from McKinleyville to Arcata and Eureka. This route will feed directly into Vero’s CPUC-funded last-mile network, offering households and businesses an end-to-end pathway to high-speed and reliable internet service.
Many community leaders attended the event in Samoa to celebrate a major victory with some advocating on the issue for almost two decades.
State CIO and CDT Director Liana Bailey-Crimmins (left) and Arcata Mayor Alex Stillman (right)prepare to cut the ribbon at Vero’s ribbon-cutting event.
“It is exciting, plus a wonderful opportunity, for our area to have Vero, who fulfilled the middle mile and is offering high-speed internet,” said Arcata Mayor Alex Stillman. “It is definitely needed and something that will make us more prosperous and viable in our local economy and beyond. We’re always looking at how to connect our communities together and this is one way we’re going to be able to do it and we’re so thankful.”
“After nearly 30 years in telecom, I’ve seen firsthand that real economic growth starts with digital equity,” said Sunita Krishna, Chief Executive Officer of Vero Fiber. “The California Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative is the most forward-thinking project I’ve been a part of. It opens access to all providers and, with support from CPUC’s last-mile grants, finally breaks away from the old monopoly model. Our partnership with CDT will bring affordable, high-speed internet to more than 20,000 North Coast households along Vero’s route, offering people options they’ve never had before.”
“It is exciting, plus a wonderful opportunity, for our area to have Vero, who fulfilled the middle mile and is offering high-speed internet,”. “It is definitely needed and something that will make us more prosperous and viable in our local economy and beyond. We’re always looking at how to connect our communities together and this is one way we’re going to be able to do it and we’re so thankful.”
— Alex Stillman, Arcata Mayor
Alex Stillman, Mayor of Arcata speaks at the VERO-CDT ribbon-cutting event in Arcata, CA.
Vero Networks’ route along the North Coast in Humboldt County.
Yurok Telecommunications’ route in Northern California.
About Middle-Mile Broadband
The Middle-Mile Broadband Network (MMBN) is a key part of Governor Newsom’s “Build More, Faster” agenda delivering new infrastructure projects and upgrades across the state. This initiative ensures that California has a resilient, open-access broadband network enabling communities to connect to the middle-mile for generations to come.
The California Department of Technology (CDT) is the lead in planning and constructing the MMBN with Caltrans and the California Public Utilities Commission playing key roles. Local governments have played a crucial role by leveraging their local planning and funding to fast-track construction.
Middle-Mile by the Numbers (As of June 30, 2025)
8,155 miles Total
7,888 miles in joint build, lease, and purchase partnerships
All 58 counties reached
3,961 miles in active construction
4500 miles in construction by Fall 2025
10 Tribal joint-build partnerships and engagements
Middle-Mile Broadband Network Status (6/30/25)
For more information about the Middle-Mile Broadband Network visit: