The network will serve disconnected rural and indigenous communities.
By Chase DiBenedetto on April 3, 2026
California just launched the largest public broadband network in the country, prioritizing Indigenous communities. On April 2, Governor Gavin Newsom activated California’s new Middle-Mile Broadband Network (MMBN) as part of the state’s Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative and Broadband for All pledge. The $3.2 billion project repurposes fiber infrastructure in the Eastern Sierra Nevada, creating a broadband backbone for rural communities. The first customer is the Bishop Paiute Tribe in Bishop, California.
“Today marks a historic first as a California tribal nation leads the way to provide increased access to their community,” said Tribal Affairs Secretary Christina Snider-Ashtari. The Bishop Paiute Tribe will act as its own ISP, managing its broadband service independently. “A lot of work has gone into this project,” said Emma Williams, chairwoman of the Bishop Paiute Tribe. “We’re so happy the network is operational so our community can access essential services.”
Indigenous communities are significantly underserved by ISPs, with lower broadband subscriptions and slower speeds. The Biden-Harris administration has increased investments, but tribal lands receive less funding. To bridge the gap, many tribal nations have initiated their own internet projects.
The Trump administration rebranded the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, focusing on private satellite providers like Starlink. However, state initiatives are continuing, filling gaps left by federal cutbacks. Matthew Rantanen noted the importance of the MMBN project for tribal communities, particularly for the Bishop Paiute Tribe’s future plans.
Social Good, Digital Divide