California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Adoption Account

Program Overview

Pursuant to Public Utilities (Pub. Util.) Code section 281, moneys in the CASF Adoption Account are available to the Commission to award grants to increase publicly available or after-school broadband access and digital inclusion, such as grants for digital literacy training programs and public education to communities with limited broadband adoption. The Commission is required to give preference to programs and projects in communities with demonstrated low broadband access, including low-income communities, senior citizen communities, and communities facing socioeconomic barriers to broadband adoption.

See the CASF Adoption Account History webpage for more information.

Eligible Applicants

Local governments, senior centers, schools, public libraries, nonprofit organizations, and community-based organizations with programs to increase publicly available or after school broadband access and digital inclusion, such as digital literacy training programs are eligible to apply for grants.

Eligible Projects

Digital Literacy (DL) Projects- Digital inclusion projects may include digital literacy training programs and public education to communities with limited broadband adoption, including low-income communities, senior citizen communities, and communities facing socioeconomic barriers to broadband adoption.

Broadband Access (BA) Projects- Publicly available or after-school broadband access projects may include free broadband access in community training rooms or other public spaces, such as local government centers, senior citizen centers, schools, public libraries, nonprofit organizations, and community-based organizations. It may also include funding community outreach, such as analysis, comparison of Internet plans with the community, and call centers that will increase broadband access and adoption.

Funding Available

The CASF Adoption Account is authorized $36.385 million for fiscal year 2024-2025 to provide grants to increase publicly available or after-school broadband access and digital inclusion.

Applying for Funds

To Apply:

Review Adoption Account Application Instructions

Complete and Submit the Adoption Account Application Package

Applications may be submitted at any time. However, staff will consider applications submitted on or before each deadline listed below as a batch, until all funds have been awarded.

Application Cycle Deadlines:

July 1, 2025

January 1, 2026

And every January 1 and July 1 thereafter, until funds are exhausted.

Any deadline falling on a holiday, or a weekend will be extended to the following business day.

Staff will post a list of applicants and projects submitted by the deadline on the CASF webpage and will post of list of projects funded.

Documents for Funded Projects

Administrative Manual (details standard procedures such as for project reporting and payment requests) and the Adoption Account Guidelines:

Adoption Account Administrative Manual

Adoption Account Guidelines

Forms Required to be Submitted for Reporting and Payments:

CASF Adoption Account Ramp Up and Year 1 Reporting Template (Word document) for a narrative description of project activities and accomplishments for the ramp up and year 1 periods only

CASF Adoption Account Completion Reporting Template (Word document) for a narrative description of project activities and accomplishments to be submitted on project completion

CASF Adoption Account Budget Details and Payment Request (DL and BA projects) Excel workbook to report on the status of the reporting period milestones, as well as request payment for relevant expenses to date (for all projects except call center projects)

CASF Adoption Account Budget Details and Payment Request (Call Center projects) Excel workbook to report on the status of the reporting period milestones, as well as request payment for relevant expenses to date (for call center projects only)