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To: Members of CASF Distribution and Service Lists 

On November 20, 2025, the California Public Utilities Commission (Commission) adopted Decision (D.) D.25-11-003, which modified program rules for the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Rural and Urban Regional Broadband Consortia (Consortia Account). Changes include authorizing 3 new Tribal Consortia that serve California Tribes in northern, central, and southern California, expanding the scope of reimbursable work to include work related to the federal Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program and future broadband deployment programs, and streamlining administrative burdens.

Next Steps for Tribal Consortia:

An application cycle for Tribal Consortia will open after Tribes have had an opportunity to provide meaningful feedback to the Commission on implementation of the new Tribal Consortia at up to 3 regional workshops. The Commission will hold a regional workshop regarding the formation of a Tribal Consortium in each of the three regions (Northern, Central, and Southern) if a Tribe requests a regional workshop in their region.

Tribes that wish to have a regional workshop in their region are invited to email the following:

• The Office of the Tribal Advisor (TribalAdvisor@cpuc.ca.gov)
• Commissioner Houck’s Advisor, Caleb Jones (Caleb.Jones@cpuc.ca.gov)
• Director for Broadband Initiatives, Maria I. Ellis (Maria.Ellis@cpuc.ca.gov)
• Consortia Account staff (CASF_Consortia_Grant_Administrator@cpuc.ca.gov)

Tribes are also invited to provide feedback regarding Tribal Consortia at the 2026 CASF Annual Workshop.

Next Steps for Regional Broadband Consortia:

An application cycle for Regional Broadband Consortia will open on December 19, 2025 and close on February 20, 2026.

We invite applications from new or existing Consortia as well as applicants to represent Consortia Regions that are not currently represented, including Regions that may have met the CASF Infrastructure Grant Account’s 98% deployment goal.

Staff will update application templates and materials pursuant to D.25-11-003 and post them to the Consortia Account website.

Staff will evaluate applications in March-April 2026, and anticipates publishing a Resolution announcing preliminary awards for public comment in May 2026, to be voted on by the Commission in June 2026.

Eligible Entities:

• Tribal Consortia: A network of Tribal governments within a Tribal Consortia Region (Northern California Region, Central California Region, or Southern California Region) that represent public, non-profit, Tribal and/or for-profit entities that share common goals and objectives with a focus on development of broadband for Tribal communities.
• Regional Broadband Consortia: An eligible Consortium may include representatives of organizations including, but not limited to, local and regional government, public safety, elementary and secondary education, health care, libraries, post-secondary education, community-based organizations, tourism, parks and recreation, agricultural, business, workforce organizations, and air pollution control or air quality management districts. An eligible Consortium is not required to have as its lead fiscal agent an entity with a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity.

Eligible Activities:

Pursuant to D.25-11-003, the Commission will consider funding Consortium activities that achieve the following objectives:

• Collaborating with the Commission and other state agencies to engage regional consortia, local officials, internet service providers (ISPs), stakeholders, and consumers regarding priority areas and cost-effective strategies to achieve the broadband access goal.
• Identifying potential CASF infrastructure projects or potential broadband deployment projects related to new programs created under SB 156 and AB 164, where providers can expand and improve their infrastructure and service offerings to achieve the goal of reaching 98% broadband deployment in each consortia region.
• Assisting potential CASF infrastructure applicants as defined in Section III or potential applicants for broadband deployment projects related to the new programs created under SB 156 and AB 164, or other state and federal programs deploying broadband in California, including BEAD, in the project development or grant application process.
• Conducting activities that will lead to or that can be reasonably expected to lead to CASF infrastructure projects as defined in Section III or broadband deployment projects related to new programs created under SB 156 and AB 164, or other state and federal programs deploying broadband in California, including BEAD, including but not limited to the following examples of allowable activities:
• Supporting project permitting activities.
• Engaging local government officials and communities to better understand and explain regional broadband needs and solutions and providing technical assistance to such entities.
• Conducting an inventory of public assets (e.g., rights-of-ways, publicly owned towers, public utility poles, equipment housing, publicly owned property) and aggregate demand, including speed tests and the identification and updates of priority areas.
• Assisting the Commission in publicizing requests for wireline testing volunteers in areas, as needed.
• Assisting the Commission in promoting broadband deployment in California, related to CASF Infrastructure Projects, the Federal Funding Account and other programs including Middle-Mile, Broadband Loan Loss Reserve, and Local Agency Technical Assistance created under SB 156 and AB 164, or other state and federal programs deploying broadband in California, including BEAD.

The Commission is accepting Consortia Account grant applications to represent regions starting in July 2026¹. The allocated funding for the Consortia Account is $9.818 million for Fiscal Year 2025-26. The Consortia Account grants are subject to a maximum funding cap of $200,000 per year per Consortium, and up to $500,000 per year per Tribal Consortium².

Application Package:

To assist prospective applicants with the application process, the CASF Rural and Urban Regional Broadband Consortia Grant Program Administrative Manual (Administrative Manual, Version 12, December 2025) and application templates will be available on the CASF Consortia webpage by December 16, 2025.

Key attachments include:

• CASF Consortia Grant Application Checklist
• Description of Existing and Past Non-CASF Funded Projects
• Board Member Background and Project Role
• Consortia Representation and Endorsements
• Work Plan and Performance Metrics Plan
• Proposed Budget Plan
• Affidavit Form

Applications will be evaluated based on meeting all the requirements in the Information Required from Applicants and scoring criteria. Applications will be objectively evaluated on how well they meet the goals of the CASF Consortia Program consistent with Public Utilities (Pub. Util.) Code, § 281.

CD will notify an applicant by letter specifying the reasons for rejection, should an application fail to meet the criteria set forth in D.25-11-003.

Proposed Timeline:

Information for Current Consortia

Some consortia are approaching the end-date of their existing grants before new grants may be approved in their Consortia Region. To avoid a gap in support for consortia activity, consortia with grants expiring before July 1, 2026, may submit an extension request to complete their work plans.

Any changes to the substantive terms and conditions underlying Commission approval of the Consortium grant (e.g., changes to Work Plan, budget, or designated Fiscal Agent, etc.) must be communicated in writing to the Communications Division Director at least 30 days before the anticipated change, and may be subject to approval by either the Director or by Commission resolution before becoming effective.

Please confirm if you need any changes to your grant and e-mail your request to CD_Director@cpuc.ca.gov and CASF_Consortia_Grant_Administrator@cpuc.ca.gov by January 20, 2026. Current consortia should complete their existing Work Plan and deliverables before we can consider or evaluate applications for any new grants.

If you have questions, please contact the Consortia Account staff at CASF_Consortia_Grant_Administrator@cpuc.ca.gov. Please use the same email address when submitting your application.

Thank you, 

CASF Team

casf_consortia_grant_administrator@cpuc.ca.gov

¹ The active Consortia grants that are expected to end by February 2026 through June 2026, and newly formed consortia may submit applications. All other existing Consortia grantees with projects ending beyond July 2026 must wait until the next application window.

² Up to $10,000 (per consortium for up to 5 representatives) for in-person attendance to at least one of the annual public workshops held pursuant to Pub. Util. Code, § 281.