Digital Divide Grant Program

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) administers the Digital Divide Grant Program (DDGP), which is funded through lease fees collected from wireless telecommunications providers utilizing state-owned property, as authorized under Government Code Section 14666.8. This initiative aims to help close the digital divide by funding projects that enhance access to broadband connectivity, technology tools, and digital literacy training. The DDGP Round 3 offers competitive grant funding to support both low-income public schools and nonprofit Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) with a proven track record of implementing community technology solutions. For the 2025–26 cycle, DDGP will award up to three grants totaling $200,000. One grant of $100,000 is designated for a public school or district in an urban or rural low-income small school district, while two grants of up to $50,000 each will be awarded to qualifying nonprofit CBOs. These projects must propose holistic solutions to digital inequity, potentially including broadband infrastructure expansion, access to affordable internet services, device distribution, development of digital curricula, and training programs tailored for students or local community members. Successful applications must demonstrate alignment with the program’s goal of addressing digital disparities in underserved school districts. To be eligible, applicants must be a tax-exempt nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. They must be in good standing with the California Franchise Tax Board and provide documentation of successful implementation of prior community technology initiatives. In cases involving public schools or school districts, CBOs must establish a formal partnership agreement with the intended beneficiary institution. The public school or district must be located within a California Department of Education-designated small school district (defined as having less than 2,500 Average Daily Attendance) and maintain a Free or Reduced-Price Meal (FRPM) eligibility rate of at least 50 percent. The grant evaluation process consists of two stages. In the first stage, reviewers verify baseline qualifications such as the applicant’s tax status, documentation of nonprofit status, and submission of required letters of recommendation and endorsements. Each applicant must submit a complete application with at least three letters of recommendation and two letters of endorsement from the partnering school or district—one from the school or district office and one from the Parent Teachers Association. Additionally, a signed agreement with the beneficiary institution must be included. Only complete and compliant applications will proceed to the second stage of evaluation. In the second stage, qualified applications are scored based on the scope of work, organizational experience, budget alignment, and overall program impact. Each submission must articulate a clear implementation plan, describe anticipated outcomes, and provide a rationale for how the project will reduce digital disparities in the target community. The CPUC will then determine final awards through a competitive selection process aligned with the guidance outlined in CPUC Resolution T-17892. The application window opened on December 12, 2025, and will close on February 12, 2026. Interested applicants can find program details, eligibility criteria, application instructions, and required forms on the CPUC website at www.cpuc.ca.gov/ddgp. Final award decisions are expected in April 2026. Funded projects will be granted a 360-day performance period from the date of award notification. For further assistance, applicants may contact CPUC’s Communications Division by phone or consult the contact information provided on the official grant flyer.