PST Awarded 4 California Advanced Services Fund Grants
Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications (PST) has accepted 4 California Advanced Services Fund grants that will bring broadband to some of the hardest-to-reach areas of our region. The grants total $14,700,000 and will bring fiber optics to more than 450 homes in underserved communities across Plumas, Sierra, and Lassen counties.
The approved projects include the Grizzly Road-Chilcoot Project, which will connect 205 unserved locations in and around Grizzly Road and Lake Davis, Beckwourth, Chilcoot, Portola, and Vinton. The Herlong Flats-East Milford Project will connect 72 locations in and around Herlong and Milford. The Mohawk Meadows Project will connect 83 locations in the communities of Blairsden, Greenhorn, Johnsville, Keddie, Mabie, Mohawk Meadows, and other areas near Whitehawk. The Sierraville Project will connect 100 locations in and around Sierraville.
“With these grants, we are focused on continuing to build on past success and infill more of our service territory,” PST General Manager Bob Marshall says. “This significant investment will enable PST to bring high-speed internet to hundreds of homes, businesses, and community institutions that have been historically underserved by reliable broadband services.”
In addition to benefiting PST, Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative—the member-owned electric utility that owns PST—will also benefit. Installation of fiber-optics along PSREC’s lines increases the footprint of its Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system.
“The award to PST will help serve rural, low-income and fire-prone communities, strengthening access to critical services and emergency communications,” California Public Utilities Commission Commissioner Darcie L. Houck says. “The Broadband Consortia awards will better connect CPUC to the local governments, small businesses, and community-based organizations that use our broadband programs.”
Previously, PST received 11 Last Mile Federal Funding Account Grant Program grants. In total, these grants will provide high-speed fiber-optic internet to more than 6,600 residents.
PST is working to construct the network with many interconnection points and is converting the entirety of the coaxial lines in Plumas County to fiber-optic. Construction began in 2024. These 11 grants will be implemented over a multi-year timeframe.
Grant Area Updates
All construction project timelines are weather-dependent and subject to change.
- Portola/Delleker/Whitehawk
- Delleker area is now open for fiber installations.
- Whitehawk construction has been completed. Call to get on the schedule for fiber installation.
- The Portola area is open for sales. Call to get on the schedule for a fiber installation.
- Plumas Pines/Graeagle
- This area is open for sale. Call to get on the schedule for a fiber installation.
- Quincy Coax Conversion
- The greater Quincy area has been completed and is open for sales. Crews are still working on small pockets in the downtown Quincy area.
- LaPorte Road/Greenhorn Ranch
- Greenhorn Ranch construction and splicing are complete, with the exception of a few underground leads. Call to get on the schedule for a fiber installation.
- Laporte Road underground construction has begun. Fiber availability is expected by late spring to early summer 2027 for the Laporte Road area.
- Ironhorse
- Construction has begun in portions of this area. Fiber availability is still TBD. More updates will be provided once we secure accurate timelines.
- Valley Ranch
- Construction and fiber splicing have been completed. Call to get on the schedule for a fiber installation.
- Mohawk Vista
- Construction has begun in the Mohawk Vista area. The estimated timeline for fiber availability is summer 2027.
- C-Road
- Construction has begun in the C-Road area. The estimated timeline for fiber availability is summer 2027.
- Loyalton Pines/Sierra Brooks
- Construction and splicing are complete. Call to get on the schedule for a fiber installation.
- Calpine/Yuba Gap
- Contractors are working in the area. Underground fiber construction is moving slower than expected.
- Yuba Gap and areas on Main Street: Calpine should expect fiber availability by the end of 2026.
- Delays are expected in the Meadow Ranch and Mountain Quail areas. Construction is estimated to begin in spring 2027.
- Janesville/Milford
- Construction and fiber splicing are complete. Call to get on the schedule for fiber installation.
- Doyle/Herlong
- Crews have replaced all poles and placed most of the fiber. Crews are scheduled to start splicing starting this month. Full completion expected in spring 2027.
- LaMalfa CDS
- This area is awaiting final permits.
- Kiley CDS
- This area is in the environmental review process.