GSCA Signs Agreement with FiberTel to Advance Construction on Golden State Fiber Network in Rural California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26, 2026

GSCA Signs Agreement with FiberTel to Advance Construction on Golden State Fiber Network in Rural California

SACRAMENTO, CA – The Golden State Connect Authority (GSCA) has signed an agreement with FiberTel for the design and construction of multiple county projects within the Golden State Fiber broadband network, which aims to expand last-mile connectivity across rural California.

Under the agreement, FiberTel will design and build fiber deployments in Alpine, Amador, Imperial, Mono and Tehama counties, as well as the Town of Mammoth Lakes. The company will also complete Phase 2 of the network buildout in Glenn County, where GSCA broke ground on Phase 1 in April 2026. Across these initial project areas, the network will span approximately 1,065 miles of fiber infrastructure.

GSCA is a joint powers authority comprised of 40 rural California counties dedicated to increasing access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet throughout the state. Through Golden State Fiber, GSCA is developing a publicly owned, open-access last-mile network that GSCA will finance, construct, own, operate, and maintain.

The open-access model enables multiple private-sector internet service providers to compete on the same infrastructure, increasing customer choice while helping keep internet service affordable for rural communities.

“This agreement represents a major milestone in our effort to close the digital divide across rural California,” said Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez, Chair of GSCA. “By partnering with FiberTel, we’re accelerating construction of critical broadband infrastructure that will connect underserved communities to world-class internet service. Access to reliable broadband is no longer a luxury, it’s essential for education, healthcare, economic opportunity and quality of life.”

FiberTel, a Quanta Services Company, is a leading provider of telecommunications network design, construction, installation and maintenance services.

“As a company, we’re honored to be part of this effort,” said Brandon McEwen, Vice President of FiberTel. “I grew up in a small community that didn’t have reliable access to the internet, so I know firsthand what that gap costs people — in opportunity, in education, in connection to the rest of the world. Rural communities deserve the same access others have had for years. This isn’t just infrastructure we’re building; it’s a foundation for the future of these communities — for the families, the businesses, and the local economies that will now have room to grow. Our kids are our future, and giving them the same tools and opportunities as everyone else starts right here.”

The agreement marks another significant step forward for Golden State Fiber following the groundbreaking of its first network project in Glenn County earlier this year.

“Golden State Fiber is transforming the way rural communities access broadband by creating a publicly owned, open-access network built specifically for long-term community benefit,” said Alpine County Supervisor David Griffith, Vice Chair of GSCA. “We’re moving from planning to construction, and residents across our member counties will soon see tangible progress as this infrastructure begins to reach homes, businesses, farms and institutions that have been left behind for far too long.”

Backed by $110.9 million in bond financing and $185.4 million from the California Public Utilities Commission’s Last Mile Federal Funding Account, the Golden State Fiber network will deliver open-access, high-speed fiber infrastructure to communities that have historically lacked reliable and affordable internet service.

With both network construction and middle-mile connectivity agreements advancing, GSCA is preparing for the next phase of deployment, breaking ground on its remaining projects and beginning to connect residents and businesses to affordable, high-speed broadband through the Golden State Fiber network in early 2027.

For more information about GSCA and its broadband initiatives, visit www.goldenstateconnect.org.  To learn more about Golden State Fiber, visit www.goldenstatefiber.com.

*Funding for GSCA’s projects has been provided in part through a grant by the Last Mile Federal Funding Account, a program administered by the California Public Utilities Commission.

ABOUT GOLDEN STATE CONNECT AUTHORITY (GSCA)

Golden State Connect Authority (GSCA) is a joint powers authority comprised of 40 rural California counties designed for the purpose of increasing access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet for the residents and businesses of those counties. GSCA assists rural counties in identifying pathways for development of internet infrastructure within their communities, including the construction of municipal-owned and/or operated internet systems, among other options. Learn more at www.goldenstateconnect.org.

ABOUT GOLDEN STATE FIBER

Golden State Fiber, a division of the Golden State Connect Authority, will deliver Open Access, high-speed fiber optic infrastructure to rural counties across California. These areas have historically faced some of the slowest internet speeds in the state. Once completed, the network will connect residents, businesses, farms, and institutions to a competitive marketplace of private-sector internet service providers. It will offer the fastest, most reliable fiber internet in the nation, with symmetrical speeds up to 10 Gbps, ultra-low latency, and no buffering. The future-proof infrastructure is built to serve generations to come. Learn more at www.goldenstatefiber.com.