Get free or low-cost internet in Nevada County, California. This guide covers free programs for people with low income, plus a complete list of every internet option available in the area.
Who is this for?Free internet for people with low income$0/month plansLow-cost plans ($5–$15/month)California Line Extension ProgramComplete list of internet options in Nevada CountyFiber internet (fastest, most reliable)Cable internetFixed wirelessSatellite internetCellular internet (hotspot)DSL (slowest wired option)Not sure what's available at your address?Broadband news & grantsEspañolRelated guides
Who is this for?
- Low-income households — you may qualify for free internet or big discounts
- Everyone in Nevada County — use the provider tables below to find the best internet option for your address
Free internet for people with low income
If you have a low income or receive benefits like CalFresh, Medi-Cal, or SNAP, you may qualify for free or very cheap internet. Here are your best options:
$0/month plans
Provider | Type | Details | Sign up |
Treelink ⭐ | Fixed wireless | Free with ACP eligibility. Uses mesh wireless near Nevada City. | |
AT&T | DSL | Free with ACP eligibility. | |
PCs for People | 4G LTE hotspot | Unlimited data on T-Mobile. Up to 23GB high-speed, then slower. Laptops available for $10! |
Low-cost plans ($5–$15/month)
Provider | Monthly cost | Sign up |
AT&T Access | $5–$10/month | |
Comcast Internet Essentials | $10/month | |
Suddenlink (Altice) | $15/month | |
Human-I-T (cellular) | $15/month |
More low-cost options: Visit cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet for a full list.
California Line Extension Program
If no internet reaches your home, the Line Extension Program (LEP) may help pay to bring service to you:
- The program covers up to 80% of the cost (up to $5,000 per household)
- You pay 20% of the cost (up to $1,000)
- You must agree to subscribe for at least one year
- Apply through a participating internet provider — they submit the application to the California Public Utilities Commission
Complete list of internet options in Nevada County
Finding reliable internet in Nevada County can be difficult, especially outside the city centers. Below is every known option, sorted by type and speed.
Fiber internet (fastest, most reliable)
Best for: heavy streaming, gaming, working from home, multiple devices
Provider | Service area | Notes | Website |
AT&T ABF | Metro areas | Best option if available (shared fiber) | |
Race Communications | Hwy 174 to Airport, Grass Valley | Well priced, occasional outages | |
Nevada County Fiber | Banner Mountain | Nonprofit. Accepts ACP. | |
Vast Networks | Various (middle-mile) | Wholesale/business accounts | |
Plumas Sierra | Truckee | ||
The Beckville Network | Newtown Rd. | Nonprofit, uses VAST | N/A |
Coming soon: Spiral Fiber (north of Nevada City), Northern Sierra BBP (Buck Mountain Rd area), Oasis Broadband (Cement Hill), and Gigafy Nevada City are planned but not yet built.
Cable internet
Best for: fast downloads, streaming, general home use
Provider | Service area | Website |
Comcast (Xfinity) | Grass Valley, Nevada City, Penn Valley | |
Suddenlink | Alta Sierra, parts of south county, Truckee |
Fixed wireless
Best for: rural areas without fiber or cable
Provider | Service area | Notes | Website |
Treelink | Outside Nevada City | Mesh network. Accepts ACP. | |
Digital Path | Western Nevada County (up to 5-Mile House) | No data limits | |
Smarter Broadband | Parts of western Nevada County | ||
GoSkyWest | Lime Kiln, McCourtney, Wolf Rd. area | ||
Colfax, parts of Hwy 174 to Grass Valley | |||
Lake Wildwood area | |||
Exwire | Truckee area |
Satellite internet
Best for: very remote areas with no other options
Provider | Type | Notes | Website |
Starlink ⭐ | Low Earth Orbit | Fast speeds, low latency. May have waitlists. | |
Viasat | Geosynchronous | Higher latency. Also known as Exede or WildBlue. | |
HughesNet | Geosynchronous | Higher latency. |
Cellular internet (hotspot)
Best for: backup internet, portability, temporary use
Provider | Website |
Verizon | |
AT&T | |
T-Mobile |
DSL (slowest wired option)
Provider | Service area | Notes |
AT&T Internet | Grass Valley, Nevada City, Penn Valley, Truckee | Digital pair gain from fiber terminal. ACP eligible. |
Not sure what's available at your address?
Use these tools to check:
- FCC Broadband Map — broadbandmap.fcc.gov — search your exact address. If a provider shows as available but can't actually serve you, dispute it on the map!
- California Broadband Map — broadbandmap.ca.gov
- Nevada County local providers — nevadacountyca.gov/1460
Broadband news & grants
Nevada County is actively working to expand internet access. Several grants and projects are in progress:
- The county streamlined environmental reviews to speed up broadband construction
- Multiple state and federal grant programs are funding new fiber projects
- Sign up for the Broadband in Nevada County Newsletter at mynevadacounty.com/broadband
- Questions? Email [email protected]
Get involved! Help advocate for better internet access:
Español
Internet Gratuito — Visión Completa de todas las Opciones de Internet
En el Condado de Nevada, encontrar internet confiable y rápido puede ser un desafío, especialmente para aquellos que viven fuera de los centros urbanos. El Programa de Conectividad Asequible (ACP) y las subvenciones tienen como objetivo proporcionar a los hogares de bajos ingresos un servicio de internet de banda ancha asequible y dispositivos conectados. En el condado se encuentran disponibles varias opciones de internet, como fibra, cable, conexión inalámbrica fija, satélite y celular, cada una con sus ventajas y desventajas.
Related guides
- Free Cell Service and Smartphone — get a free phone with unlimited data
- Wi-Fi Hotspot Lending — borrow a hotspot from the Nevada County Library
- How to use TechEmpower.org — find more resources like this