|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
PRESS RELEASE. From the September 24th, 2024 Cruzio Blog.
In the wake of COVID-19 and a series of devastating wildfires, the state of California was making broadband expansion a priority, pushing to bridge the glaring digital divide. Many residents were still struggling with limited or no internet access, hampering their ability to work, study, or get vital information during emergencies.
Cruzio had a track record of securing grant funding and successfully completing complex projects, to reach unserved areas, even ones larger ISPs had passed on. Our Equal Access initiative had already made strides in providing affordable internet to low-income families, working closely with local schools and nonprofits. Meanwhile, Rob had extensive knowledge of the Coastside region — its beauty, its connectivity challenges, and the urgent need for better service. Recent advances in fixed wireless technology, allowing ultra-fast speeds over longer distances, was the final piece of the puzzle.
The three quickly realized that by combining their resources, they were in a perfect position to secure upcoming grant funding and solve a major regional issue.
By the end of 2021, the partnership between Cruzio and Coastside.net was official, and the combined teams launched into action, working tirelessly to craft the technical and financial framework to secure a multimillion-dollar ($5.65M) grant.
Fast forward to February 2024: The California Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously in favor of Resolution T-17810, green-lighting the EAS2C proposal. With the funding locked in, we wasted no time rolling out high-speed, resilient telecommunications infrastructure. Cruzio is set to connect the first wave of subscribers within weeks and by September the network will be fully operational.
The impact? Thousands of homes and businesses will finally experience the speed and reliability they’ve long needed. Beyond that, we’ll integrate fire alert cameras into the network, bolstering safety across the region. Cruzio has already started partnering with local organizations, including the Department of Emergency Management on their Coastal Resiliency Infrastructure Strategic Plan (CRISP), to ensure that this new network benefits the entire community.
We’re excited to see how this infrastructure will shape the future of the Coastside area, and we’re eager to hear from residents and local groups on how we can collaborate to make the most of this new resource.
If you’d like to connect with a member of our senior project team about EAS2C, feel free to reach out at cruzio.com/contact.
We especially want to recognize the incredible work being done by Cruzio’s growing team of all-local employees, many of whom have been with us for decades. It’s been a team effort, and fast, affordable internet is going to make a world of difference for folks across the region.
Established in 1989, Cruzio provides independent, Net Neutral internet to thousands of Santa Cruz customers, from large businesses to government entities to individual homes. Cruzio’s downtown headquarters and coworking center is home to dozens of local businesses and the hub of our state-of-the-art network. For 35 years Cruzio has been a proud member of the Santa Cruz community, providing free and low-cost high speed internet to many non-profits and community groups and regularly winning annual reader polls for “best internet provider.”
Contact
James Hackett
Chief Operating Officer
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cruzio.com
More on Cruzio on Coastside Buzz
Cruzio Got a $5.65M Grant for their “Summits to the Sea” Proposal ~ What That Means for Us;
CPUC Gives Green Light to Cruzio Internet’s “Equal Access: Summits to the Sea” Grant Proposal for Gigabit Broadband for San Mateo County Rural Areas; February 22, 2024
More on Middle Mile Broadband Internet on Coastside Buzz
Author: Coastside Buzz
Me
