California Advanced Services Fund: Broadband Adoption Account – July 2025 Cycle

The California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Adoption Account, administered by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), is a grant program designed to enhance broadband access and digital inclusion throughout the state. Established under California Public Utilities Code Section 281, this initiative aims to support programs that address broadband adoption barriers, especially in communities that experience low subscription rates due to socioeconomic challenges. The program is part of California’s broader efforts to close the digital divide and foster equitable access to online resources, education, and economic opportunity. The Adoption Account supports two primary categories of projects: Digital Literacy (DL) and Broadband Access (BA). Digital Literacy projects focus on delivering instructional programs, including structured classes, one-on-one tutoring, or self-paced instruction, to increase residents’ ability to effectively use digital tools. These projects are required to provide at least eight hours of training per participant and may include curriculum development, staff instruction, computing equipment, and digital platforms. Broadband Access projects aim to provide free internet connectivity in community training rooms and public spaces like libraries, senior centers, or nonprofit facilities. These may also include community education efforts such as call centers or comparative analysis of local internet plans to assist individuals in making informed connectivity decisions. Eligible applicants include local governments, schools, public libraries, senior centers, nonprofit organizations, and community-based organizations operating in California. Each application must demonstrate community need, defined by low broadband adoption or socioeconomic disadvantage, and include community support evidence such as letters of endorsement or partnerships. Special priority is given to projects located in rural areas, communities with high rates of limited English proficiency, limited educational attainment, or low income levels. Applications must include detailed project plans, budgets, outreach strategies, and performance metrics. The Adoption Account program may cover up to 85 percent of eligible costs. Covered expenses include educational materials, acceptable computing devices (excluding smartphones), classroom furniture, routers, modems, curriculum development, technical support, and administrative expenses up to 15 percent of the project budget. There are funding caps for specific items—for example, classroom devices are reimbursed up to $750 per device (with a $11,250 total project cap), and take-home computers and hotspots have limits as well. Notably, grant recipients may not profit from grant funds or charge for grant-funded services. Applications may be submitted continuously; however, they are reviewed in batches with deadlines on January 1 and July 1 each year until funds are exhausted. The current authorized budget for the 2024–2025 fiscal year is $36.385 million. The CPUC evaluates applications for completeness, alignment with program goals, and budget reasonableness. Smaller applications—under $150,000 with experienced applicants—may be eligible for ministerial review, while others are subject to full Commission resolution. Applicants are notified of approval via resolution or award letter and must submit a signed consent form within 30 days to accept the terms. Grantees must begin projects within six months of accepting the award and complete them within 24 months. Progress is reported at multiple stages, including after the ramp-up period, the end of Year 1, and project completion, with payment requests tied to these reporting milestones. Final payments are contingent on documented outcomes, such as the number of participants trained or who subscribed to broadband services post-intervention. Contact for the program is available via [email protected], and comprehensive guidelines and application instructions are provided through the CPUC's dedicated CASF Adoption Account webpage.

Ensure application completeness, provide community need evidence and endorsements to strengthen evaluation.