California Emerging Technology Fund

The mission of the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) is to close the Digital Divide (the Challenge), promote Digital Inclusion (the Process), and achieve Digital Equity (the Results) in California by accelerating the Deployment and Adoption of broadband in Unserved and Underserved communities and among Unconnected and Underconnected residents.

CETF is a unique organization in the nation—no other state has a non-profit with a primary mission to close the Digital Divide by addressing the challenges of both “supply” and “demand” to increase the use of technologies enabled by ubiquitous high-speed Internet access. CETF is a vital catalyst for bringing together diverse stakeholders—elected officials and policymakers, regional and local civic leaders, community organizations, and broadband providers—to collectively tackle the many facets of the Digital Divide.

Deployment: CETF is active in CPUC rulemaking for CASF, setting forth an approach to accelerate Deployment: (a) engage RBCs, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), and Councils of Governments (COGs) to coordinate outreach to all stakeholders; (b) establish open competition to invite ISPs to “step up or step aside” to build Last-Mile Projects “at scale” to the “hardest-to- reach” unserved areas (rural remote communities, including Tribal Lands, and high-poverty urban neighborhoods); (c) connect and upgrade all locations along the path of deployment, including anchor institutions; (d) foster public-private partnerships to leverage and stretch public dollars; and (e) streamline permitting for projects meeting these conditions. This framework is the most expeditious and cost-effective path to achieve Ubiquitous Deployment.

Adoption: CETF calls Digital Equity a 21st Century Civil Right. Rural and low-income residents stuck on the wrong side of the Digital Divide are being left behind at an accelerating pace—unable to apply for jobs, keep up in school, or access information about public services. Today 15% of all California households are digitally-disadvantaged—9% are Unconnected (not online at home) and 6% are Underconnected (have only a smartphone); 29% of low-income are disadvantaged with 18% Unconnected and 11% Underconnected. Getting residents connected at home to the Internet with digital literacy proficiency is called Adoption. In the last 5 years, CETF and CBO Grantees have assisted more than 525,000 low-income households get connected with affordable home Internet service, achieving 91% Adoption statewide in 2021. The pursuit of Universal Adoption underscores the need to get all residents online to achieve Digital Equity.

Institutionalization: CETF promotes the incorporation of Digital Inclusion practices into all public agencies and major organizations serving low-income households and other disadvantaged populations. This is called Institutionalization so that Digital Equity is “rooted” into organizational culture. It requires public policy, especially leadership by the Governor and Legislature, to set goals, authorize action, and sustain momentum to engage stakeholders and leverage private resources.

The California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) is a statewide nonprofit foundation dedicated to closing the Digital Divide by accelerating broadband deployment and adoption in unserved and underserved communities. Through strategic grants, partnerships, and initiatives like School2Home, CETF has helped more than 1 million low-income households get connected to affordable Internet service and trained over 1 million residents in digital skills, empowering families to succeed in school, secure better jobs, and access essential healthcare. 

Millions of Californians remain cut off from the opportunities of the digital world. Low-income families, rural residents, seniors, immigrants, and people with disabilities are disproportionately left behind without affordable Internet or the skills to use it. This Digital Divide means children struggle in school, parents miss out on jobs, and entire communities are excluded from healthcare and civic life. CETF is dedicated to closing this gap by expanding broadband access and Digital Literacy for unserved and underserved households. With your support, we can ensure every Californian has the tools to learn, work, and thrive in today’s connected world.

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