BISHOP PAIUTE TRIBE

50 North Tu Su Lane | Bishop | CA 93514

(760) 873-3584 | Fax: (760) 873-4143 | bishoppaiute.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 3, 2026

Contact: [email protected]

(760) 873-3584. Ext. 1340

Bishop Paiute Tribe Hosts Gov. Gavin Newsom to Connect High-speed

Public Broadband at “Middle-Mile Connected” Event

BISHOP, Calif. – The Bishop Paiute Tribe today warmly welcomed Gov. Gavin Newsom as he turned on the nation’s largest open-access, public broadband network and connected its first rural community in partnership with the Bishop Paiute Reservation. It is the first high-speed internet connection on a sovereign Tribal nation in California delivering affordable, fast internet for the Eastern Sierra.

 

Gov. Newsom met with Paiute students who directly benefit from access to broadband before joining Bishop Paiute Tribal members along with Bishop City, County and State officials at the Barlow Gymnasium for a luncheon to celebrate the new partnership.

 

“The Bishop Paiute Tribe is now online, taking a major step toward closing the digital divide,” said Chairwoman Emma Williams. “We’re the first Tribe in California to connect to California’s Middle-Mile Broadband Network. This opportunity not only provides access to high-speed internet, but it also affords us workplace development opportunities and is a segue to creating and operating our own Tribal ISP broadband services. This wouldn’t have been possible were it not for Gov. Newsom initiating funding for rural and Tribal communities throughout California.”

 

Paiute students were among the first to log on, experiencing dramatically faster speeds and new access to education, health care, cultural resources, and workforce development. More than 35% of rural areas lack internet access, especially Tribal communities. Gov. Newsom’s “Broadband for All” initiative aims to bridge the divide across all 58 California counties.

 

“Many Tribal communities struggle with unreliable internet due do infrastructure gaps,” said Paiute Tribal member Leviya Williams, local representative for United National Indian Tribal Youth. “The digital divide is the gap between those who have access to technology and those who don’t. When communities don’t have internet, they miss out on education, job opportunities, health care and important civic information. Expanding high-speed internet helps create equal opportunities and a stronger future for everyone.”

 

Gov. Newsom thanked the Bishop Paiute Tribe and the team that designed and built the system. “I’m grateful to be here today. We’re not just talking about closing the digital divide — we’re doing it. California is delivering fast, reliable, and affordable internet to communities across the state. That means more students with stronger access to educational resources, more families accessing critical health care, and more Californians having the opportunity to apply for good-paying jobs. This progress is real, it’s measurable, and it’s making a difference in people’s lives.”

 

As the first customer of California’s Middle-Mile Broadband Network, the Bishop Paiute Tribe is bringing high-speed, reliable internet to rural, Tribal, and historically underserved areas and beyond.

 

“Today marks a historic first as a California Tribal nation enthusiastically leads the way to provide increased access and reliability to their local community,” said California Tribal Affairs Secretary Christina Snider-Ashtari. “California’s partnership with the Bishop Paiute Tribe demonstrates the progress we can make when we work together to provide a brighter future for all Californians.”

 

This groundbreaking partnership is a model for government-to-government relations between Tribal nations and the state. As a Tribally owned internet service provider, the Bishop Paiute Tribe, with more than 2,200 citizens, will independently manage and operate its broadband service, including setting pricing and service offerings for households on and off the reservation. The partnership reflects California’s commitment to Tribal sovereignty and self-determination.

 

“This investment connects our community while creating local jobs and giving us the ability to lead and manage our own digital future,” said Tribal Council Member Meryl Picard.

 

The new internet service in Bishop is made possible by connecting to a 423-mile segment of the MMBN that runs from Barstow to the Nevada border along Highway 395. Demonstrating California’s innovative approach to infrastructure development, CDT acquired dormant fiber infrastructure and transformed it through major upgrades into a robust, high-capacity backbone now serving rural and tribal communities throughout the Eastern Sierra Nevada region.

 

The Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative ensures that California has a resilient, open-access broadband network enabling communities to connect to high-speed internet for generations to come. Once complete, last mile projects will take internet connections from middle-mile lines to homes, schools, businesses, and more.

 

“Connecting the Bishop Paiute Tribe as the first customer of California’s middle mile broadband network illustrates true partnership and a commitment to serving all corners of California,” said Government Operations Secretary Nick Maduros. “This milestone reflects the power of working hand in hand with tribal communities to build infrastructure that supports opportunity and long-term connectivity.”