Pursuant to Public Utilities (Pub. Util.) Code section 281, moneys in the CASF Adoption Account are available to the Commission to award grants to increase publicly available or after-school broadband access and digital inclusion, such as grants for digital literacy training programs and public education to communities with limited broadband adoption. The Commission is required to give preference to programs and projects in communities with demonstrated low broadband access, including low-income communities, senior citizen communities, and communities facing socioeconomic barriers to broadband adoption.
See the CASF Adoption Account History webpage for more information.
Local governments, senior centers, schools, public libraries, nonprofit organizations, and community-based organizations with programs to increase publicly available or after school broadband access and digital inclusion, such as digital literacy training programs are eligible to apply for grants.
Digital Literacy (DL) Projects- Digital inclusion projects may include digital literacy training programs and public education to communities with limited broadband adoption, including low-income communities, senior citizen communities, and communities facing socioeconomic barriers to broadband adoption.
Broadband Access (BA) Projects- Publicly available or after-school broadband access projects may include free broadband access in community training rooms or other public spaces, such as local government centers, senior citizen centers, schools, public libraries, nonprofit organizations, and community-based organizations. It may also include funding community outreach, such as analysis, comparison of Internet plans with the community, and call centers that will increase broadband access and adoption.
The CASF Adoption Account is authorized $36.385 million for fiscal year 2024-2025 to provide grants to increase publicly available or after-school broadband access and digital inclusion.
To Apply:
Applications may be submitted at any time. However, staff will consider applications submitted on or before each deadline listed below as a batch, until all funds have been awarded.
Application Cycle Deadlines:
And every January 1 and July 1 thereafter, until funds are exhausted.
Any deadline falling on a holiday, or a weekend will be extended to the following business day.