April 21, 2026
Bishop Paiute Tribe First to Connect to the Nation’s Largest Open-Access Broadband Network
Why it Matters: For too long, high-speed internet has been out of reach for many communities across California—especially in tribal, rural, and unserved and underserved metro areas. Due to lack of accessibility or high cost, students struggle to complete assignments, families face barriers to telehealth, and local economies are limited by slow or unreliable connections—if they had any connectivity at all.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – On April 2, California reached a historic milestone in closing the digital divide. The first customer came online through the state’s Middle-Mile Broadband Network (MMBN). At the center of that moment is the Bishop Paiute Tribe—now connected to reliable high-speed internet thanks to the vision behind Governor Gavin Newsom’s Broadband for All initiative. This once-in-a-generation investment ensures every Californian, regardless of geography or income, can participate fully in the digital economy. By building a state-owned, open-access middle-mile network spanning more than 8,000 miles, California is tackling one of the root causes of the digital divide: the lack of affordable infrastructure in rural, tribal, and underserved communities. The initiative will extend connectivity, lower costs by increasing competition among providers, and help to future-proof the state’s broadband ecosystem.
At the Bishop Paiute Tribe’s Education Center near Bishop, California, Governor Gavin Newsom was joined by Tribal Chairwoman Emma Williams, other state leaders, including State Chief Information Officer and California Department of Technology (CDT) Director Liana Bailey-Crimmins*, tribal representatives, students, and community members who gathered to witness an event years in the making. The Tribe officially became the first customer connected to the MMBN—the largest open-access broadband network in the nation.
Students were among the first to experience the impact. In real time, they saw faster speeds—nearly tenfold—more reliable connections, and new possibilities for learning, community connections, and entertainment. This marked a long-awaited and critical step toward digital inclusion.
“No community should be defined by its lack of digital access,” said Bailey-Crimmins. “This milestone marks a turning point where affordable broadband connection reaches communities that have been left behind.”
The Bishop Paiute Tribe is the internet service provider and will independently manage and operate its service. It will set pricing, define service offerings, and extend connectivity on and off the reservation.
This connection is powered by a 423-mile segment of the MMBN running from Barstow to the Nevada border along Highway 395. As part of this effort, CDT revitalized existing dormant infrastructure and made significant upgrades—including new electronics that went into creating a fiber backbone spanning the Eastern Sierra. That’s just the beginning.
The Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative is building an open-access network that reaches every county in the State. Today, roughly one in five residents still lacks access to affordable high-speed internet. By expanding middle-mile infrastructure and supporting last-mile connections to homes and businesses, the state is closing that gap.
The Newsom Administration has made a historic $6 billion investment to bring the vision of digital equity to life. CDT leads the effort in partnership with Caltrans and the California Public Utilities Commission, while tribes and local governments have played a critical role in accelerating planning and construction.
From the Eastern Sierra to communities across the state, California is building a future where demographics and geography no longer determine opportunity. It’s a future where every student can learn, every family can connect, and every community can thrive.
That future is officially online.
*Liana Bailey-Crimmins retired before this story posted.