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California has made historic investments to expand broadband access, but significant gaps remain, leaving hundreds of thousands of households without reliable internet access, according to a new Issue Brief by the Little Hoover Commission.
The commission released California’s Digital Divide, examining disparities in broadband availability, affordability, and adoption across the state.
While statewide data suggests near-universal coverage, these figures can be misleading, masking persistent inequities tied to geography, income, and other factors.
Despite progress, an estimated 4.6 percent of California households still lack internet access, with significantly higher gaps in rural and low-income communities, the commission's research shows.
The brief highlights how gaps in broadband access affect education, healthcare, economic opportunity, and civic participation, with the impacts most pronounced in rural areas, tribal communities and among low-income households.
In rural counties, double-digit percentages of households lack access to even basic broadband speeds, while affordability challenges leave about one in five households earning less than $20,000 without an internet subscription.
Even in areas where infrastructure exists, service quality and cost can limit meaningful access.
The brief also outlines the state’s multi-faceted efforts to expand broadband access, including major investments in middle-mile and last-mile infrastructure, as well as programs aimed at improving affordability and adoption.
While these efforts have expanded funding and infrastructure, demand for resources continues to exceed available funding.
The commission’s Issue Brief series reports important research on public policy questions. Unlike full reports by the commission, Issue Briefs do not include recommendations for policy change.
