Golden State Fiber is an open access, fiber optic network established in 2025 by Golden State Connect Authority, a California joint powers authority and public agency. The mission of Golden State Fiber is to bring direct Fiber to the Home (FTTH) to residences, businesses, farms, and ranches across California’s rural counties. Created by the elected leadership of California’s rural counties, our goal is to help rural California thrive by providing the fastest and most reliable internet connection possible.

Nearly 40 of California’s 58 counties have expressed interest in having our high-speed fiber network built in their communities. We’re excited to start construction in the following areas throughout the state: Alpine County, Amador County, Glenn County, Imperial County, Mono County, Tehama County, and the Town of Mammoth Lakes.

Fiber optics are hair-thin flexible strands of glass through which light beams can travel. The strand functions as a waveguide or “light pipe” to transmit light between the two ends of the fiber. Fiber can handle an infinite amount of data in the form of light, allowing Golden State Fiber to offer high speeds for surfing, streaming, working, learning, and farming, at a low cost.

We’re so glad you asked! There are a lot of benefits to having a fiber optic internet connection, but here are some of our favorites:

• It’s the fastest internet on the planet! Residential lines enjoy speeds of up to 10 Gbps, and business lines can reach speeds of up to 100 Gbps!
• You get consistent, symmetrical upload and download speeds. Symmetrical speed (only available on fiber) virtually eliminates lag and buffering. That means when you sign up for a 250 Mbps connection, you’ll get 250 Mbps speeds whether you’re uploading or uploading a video feed or downloading a movie to stream!
• A fiber line dedicated to you. Every home on the Golden State Fiber network has a direct line straight from our network to your home! This means you don’t share your line with any other subscribers, so you’ll enjoy all the bandwidth you need.
• Fiber is “future proof.” Fiber optics can handle immense amounts of data (commonly seen in online gaming, medical imaging, and even precision agriculture), which means it can power applications we haven’t even thought of yet.

Funding for the Golden State Fiber Network is coming from two places that breakdown as follows:
Public Financing: $110.9 million in bond funding.
State Funding: $185.4 million from the CPUC Last Mile Federal Funding Account.

Yes! Golden State Fiber is a publicly owned, open-access network. Golden State Connect Authority will finance, construct, own, operate, and maintain the network and then invite multiple internet service providers to provide service on that network. This results in greater customer choice, better service, and affordability for rural communities.

Golden State Fiber is starting construction in Glenn County in June of 2026. This will be the first deployment in a multi-county buildout to deliver last-mile fiber connectivity across rural California.

All Pricing and Internet Service Provider information is still being determined and will be announced soon!