By the end of 2024, the State of California had over 3,000 miles of “middle mile” broadband infrastructure under development, according to a press release from Governor Gavin Newsom’s office.

The publicly funded, state-owned, open-access network is expected to become the largest of its kind in the U.S., aiming to deliver high-speed internet access to millions of Californians, the release said.

“We are building the nation’s largest open-access broadband network of its kind to ensure all Californians have access to reliable, high-speed internet,” Newsom said. “Our historic investments not only set California on track to thrive in the digital world, it provides the foundation for our economy and our workers to flourish.”

Middle Mile Broadband Explained

As the need for fast, reliable internet continues to rise, more attention is being paid to the infrastructure that enables it – especially in rural and underserved areas.

Although “last mile” service often dominates public discussion and policy, the lesser-known “middle mile” is just as critical. Last mile networks can’t operate without it.

In internet infrastructure, the “middle mile” refers to the portion that links local networks – like those serving communities, neighborhoods, or local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) – to the internet’s core backbone. It fills the gap between long-distance, high-capacity transmission lines and the local networks that deliver service to homes and businesses.

Middle mile infrastructure typically includes:

• Fiber-optic cables
• Microwave or fixed wireless links
• Regional data centers or network hubs
• Aggregation points for multiple local networks

In practical terms, imagine a rural town where a small ISP serves residents and local businesses. The ISP might have its own last mile infrastructure – wires and routers that deliver internet directly to users – but without a robust middle mile connection to a larger urban hub or data center, that service will be slow, unstable, or prohibitively expensive.

In late 2024, the California Department of Technology (CDT) sealed two more joint-build agreements with the Karuk Tribe in the northern part of the state and the Gateway Cities Council of Governments in the southern part of the state. These joint-build partnerships pave the way for 46 miles across county and tribal lands and a 73-mile stretch of network in southeast Los Angeles County, connecting 26 cities, many of them historically underserved communities.

“We are entering into an era of co-management where work together with our state partners to manage these lands which requires an adaptive process,” said Karuk Tribe Chairman Russell Attebery. “The Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative is an integral part of that process. Broadband is not just public safety and education, but also a life-changing instrument and we are partnering with the state to ensure that the next generations of the Karuk people can survive and have a better quality of life.”

“Low-income communities are behind technologically – and business as usual has left communities in several areas of California with a digital divide,” added Vilma Cuellar-Stallings, Board President Gateway Cities Council of Governments and Paramount City Councilwoman. “We are grateful that the California Department of Technology worked with the cities in Southeast Los Angeles County to narrow our digital divide and that of communities like ours, bringing high-speed fiber optic access to underserved Californians.”

California’s Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative is designed to ensure that the state’s residents have a resilient, open-access broadband network with high-speed internet. In addition to the 3,000 miles of middle-mile construction that is ongoing, other program highlights include:

• 10 Tribal joint-build partnerships and engagements
• All 58 counties reached
• 7,233 miles in lease/purchase partnership
• 4,000 miles under construction by Spring 2025

“We are building critical broadband infrastructure across the state to ensure a California where everyone has reliable access to the internet,” said California State Chief Information Officer and CDT Director Liana Bailey-Crimmins. “We are grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration and our state and local partners working with us to close the digital divide.”

How the Internet Is Structured: Backbone, Middle Mile, Last Mile

To understand where middle mile fits, it’s helpful to consider the three-tier structure of internet connectivity:

1. Backbone – The internet’s global core, composed of ultra-high-capacity fiber optic networks that span continents and oceans. These are operated by large network providers and connect major cities, countries, and continents.
2. Middle Mile – The regional link that connects local ISPs, anchor institutions (like schools and hospitals), and government networks to backbone infrastructure. It includes regional transport networks and routing facilities.
3. Last Mile – The final connection to individual end users – homes, schools, libraries, and businesses. This is often where consumer-facing ISPs operate, delivering broadband via cable, DSL, fiber, or wireless.

All three segments must work together to deliver high-speed, reliable internet. Weakness in any one part limits the entire system.

Why the Middle Mile Matters

The middle mile is a less visible but significant obstacle to expanding broadband access. While most funding and development efforts prioritize last mile service, local providers still rely on affordable, high-capacity middle mile connections to offer reliable, competitive internet. This gap is most pronounced in rural or remote areas, where middle mile infrastructure is often sparse or entirely missing.

• Cost Efficiency: Without access to affordable, open-access middle mile networks, ISPs may have to lease bandwidth from private carriers at high rates – costs that are ultimately passed on to customers.
• Network Performance: Outdated or congested middle mile infrastructure can create bottlenecks, limiting speed and increasing latency – even if the last mile network is fully upgraded.
• Scalability: A strong middle mile foundation allows communities to expand their networks and add services like public Wi-Fi, smart grids, and remote learning without degrading performance.
• Resilience and Redundancy: Investment in middle mile networks supports backup pathways, helping maintain service continuity during outages or emergencies.

Ongoing Implementation Challenges:

• High Capital Costs: Building fiber over long distances is expensive and resource-intensive.
• Geographic Barriers: Rugged terrain and limited rights-of-way can delay or complicate deployment, especially in rural or mountainous areas.
• Permitting and Coordination: Infrastructure projects often require multi-jurisdictional approvals and cooperation from utility stakeholders, which can significantly slow progress.

To deliver real value to communities, middle mile infrastructure must not only be built – it must be built safely, with careful attention to avoiding damage to existing underground utilities.

GPRS safeguards existing and new infrastructure through our subsurface damage prevention, existing conditions documentation, and facility & project management services.

Our utility locating services utilize ground penetrating radar (GPR), electromagnetic (EM) locating, remote-controlled sewer pipe inspection crawlers and push-fed sewer scopes to locate and map buried infrastructure in your project area so you can avoid it when microtrenching or directional drilling. This ensures you avoid costly and dangerous subsurface damage, including cross bores.

SiteMap® (patent pending), GPRS’ infrastructure mapping software application, stores all this accurate, field-verified data in one secure, yet easily accessible platform. You’ll be able to view and share this information with your project team from any computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Click below to schedule your live, personal SiteMap demo today!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can GPRS find PVC piping and other non-conductive utilities?
GPR scanning is exceptionally effective at locating all types of subsurface materials. There are times when PVC pipes do not provide an adequate signal to ground penetrating radar equipment and can’t be properly located by traditional methods. However, GPRS Project Managers are expertly trained at multiple methods of utility locating.

What size pipes can GPRS inspect?
Our elite VPI Project Managers have the capabilities to inspect pipes from 2” in diameter and up.