August 15, 2025
California Surges Forward Building the Nation’s Largest Open-Access Middle-Mile Broadband Network
California is Working with Tribes to Close the Digital Divide
Why it Matters: California is working to ensure opportunity and access to the digital world that connects everyone to education, health, family, and economic mobility.
On August 12, State and Tribal leaders gathered on Hoopa Valley Tribe ancestral lands to celebrate the construction of nearly 23 miles of high-capacity middle-mile broadband infrastructure along California State Route 96. These 23 miles are part of the larger 8,000+ mile network that will serve as the backbone for homes, schools, and other locations that are currently unserved to have reliable access to the internet.
The Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District (HVPUD) and the State entered into the first ever Tribal-State middle-mile broadband joint-build agreement. The model agreement has led to ten additional joint-build agreements with Tribal nations across California—with more on the way.
Leaders of CDT, Hoopa Valley Tribal Council, Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District, and CA Public Utilities Commission with community members and construction crew.
Once complete, the route will deliver last-mile service to roughly 1,900 homes and 3,000 residents while adding critical resiliency to California’s open-access middle-mile broadband network.
“I am proud of the collaboration with the Hoopa Valley Tribe that will bring reliable internet access to the tribe and to the surrounding community,” said State Chief Information Officer and CDT Director Liana Bailey-Crimmins. “Our first-of-its-kind agreement with the Hoopa Valley Tribe proved the concept, opened the door for ten more Tribal partnerships, and shows that statewide connectivity and Tribal self-determination go hand in hand.”
“We are very thankful for the Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative, our partnership with the State of California, and all the hard work committed towards these projects by our Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District as well as the CA Department of Technology. Through these efforts our community will be more resilient and successful. We look forward to keeping the momentum going!” — Hoopa Valley Tribal Chairman Joe Davis
“I am proud of the collaboration with the Hoopa Valley Tribe that will bring reliable internet access to the tribe and to the surrounding community,” “Our first-of-its-kind agreement with the Hoopa Valley Tribe proved the concept, opened the door for ten more Tribal partnerships, and shows that statewide connectivity and Tribal self-determination go hand in hand.”
— Liana Bailey-Crimmins, State Chief Information Officer and CDT Director
CA State Chief Information Officer and Department of Technology Director Liana Bailey-Crimmins with Hoopa Valley Tribal Chairman Joe Davis.
“The Hoopa Valley Tribe is proud to be the first Tribe in California to enter into a joint-build agreement under the SB156 Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative. This groundbreaking marks more than just fiber going into the ground—it represents a historic step forward in building long-overdue regional infrastructure across our aboriginal territory in Northern California. It has taken years of design, permitting and planning to get to this point and together with CDT we are building critical connectivity for tribal nations, rural communities, and all Californians.” — Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District General Manager Linnea Jackson
“The Hoopa Valley Tribe is proud to be the first Tribe in California to enter into a joint-build agreement under the SB156 Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative. This groundbreaking marks more than just fiber going into the ground—it represents a historic step forward in building long-overdue regional infrastructure across our aboriginal territory in Northern California. It has taken years of design, permitting and planning to get to this point and together with CDT we are building critical connectivity for tribal nations, rural communities, and all Californians.” —
— Linnea Jackson, Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District General Manager
Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District General Manager Linnea Jackson speaks at ribbon cutting event in Hoopa.
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
(Data as of August 1, 2025)
8,155 miles total
7,888 miles in joint build, lease, and purchase
4,016 miles in active construction
10 Tribal partnerships and engagements
All 58 counties reached