HOOPA VALLEY, Calif. — In a groundbreaking move for digital equity, the Hoopa Valley Tribe has partnered with the state of California to bring high-speed internet to one of the largest and most remote tribal reservations in the state. Leaders of the project gathered on Tuesday to celebrate this milestone, marking the first joint-build agreement between the tribe and the California Department of Technology.
“It’s an absolute honor to be a partner with the California Department of Technology, California Public Utilities Commission, Caltrans, on behalf of the tribe and it’s an absolute honor to facilitate this project and we look forward to being a great state partner for decades to come,” Linnea Jackson, General Manager of the Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District said.
The initiative is part of Senate Bill 156, Governor Gavin Newsom’s $6 billion broadband initiative, which aims to connect all Californians to affordable, high-speed internet. California State Chief Information Officer and Director of the Technology Department, Liana Bailey-Crimmins, highlighted the importance of the project. “We learned through COVID-19 that the digital divide is very big. One in five Californians don’t have access to affordable high-speed internet, so we are here to serve and to provide those opportunities that sub-communities do not have, especially in rural parts of California,” said Bailey-Crimmins.
Tribal leaders emphasized that installing underground fiber lines where possible will create a more resilient and dependable network. The project is expected to enhance education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for Hoopa Valley and surrounding communities. Joe Davis, Chairman of the Hoopa Valley Tribe, noted the broader benefits. “It creates jobs, it creates educational opportunities around technology, there’s just a ton of benefits all the way around,” said Davis.
For the Hoopa Valley Tribe, this moment reflects years of planning, partnership, and persistence, marking a major step toward closing the digital divide in a region where internet access has long been limited.
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