NEWS

State Approves $25 Million for Pauma’s Broadband Network

A transformative milestone introducing high-speed, future-proof fiber optic connectivity to our rural tribal lands—bridging the digital divide and securing critical opportunities for generations to come.

The Fiber Backbone

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved up to $24,983,405 for the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians to build a high-speed broadband network across tribal lands. Approved on July 2, 2026, under the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Resolution T-17909, the project will serve 383 unserved locations using a combination of fiber-optic and fixed wireless technology.The network will be tribally owned and operated through a newly established tribal internet service provider (ISP), connecting directly to California's statewide open-access Middle-Mile Broadband Network. This award was approved alongside a similar grant for the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel, totaling nearly $50 million for tribal broadband in San Diego County.

High-speed fiber-optic network infrastructure glowing with light transmission

Wireless telecommunications tower on mountain ridge

Reaching Every Home

While this funding approval marks a major milestone, service is not yet available. The project now moves into the build phase, and the Tribe will announce construction sequencing and pricing as the work progresses. EnerTribe Pauma is leading the critical build phase to deliver ultra-high-speed broadband infrastructure across our ancestral lands. By directly connecting to California's high-capacity Middle-Mile network, we are eliminating the digital divide and ensuring robust, sovereign telecommunications access for every family, elder, and community institution.

A Network Built for Pauma

Questions about whether your home will be connected, what service will cost, or when construction reaches your area are answered by the Tribe’s broadband program.