The internet was designed to survive a nuclear strike, but on the coast of Mendocino County, all it takes is an automobile accident or a poorly driven bulldozer to knock the region off the communications grid for hours or even days. For years, local residents have urged government officials to provide redundancy, but the goal seemed out of reach.
Then, in July 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill allocating $3.25 billion to the creation of an 8,000-mile fiber optic broadband network — building out the so-called middle miles between the internet’s backbone or trunk lines and rural communities like Fort Bragg. Seizing the opportunity, the city of Fort Bragg decided to invest in the last mile — directly connecting homes and businesses — and began exploring the possibility of becoming an Internet Service Provider (ISP) itself.
At a city council meeting on Monday, City Manager Isaac Whippy provided a progress report: “We’ll start ordering conduit, fiber, and materials by December 15,” Whippy said, noting that funding commitments will be finalized in January, with construction expected to begin by April 2025. The first customer could be connected as early as spring 2026.
The Project’s Three Key Components:
- Middle-Mile Installation: The state of California has committed to installing fiber optic cable and underground conduit along Highway 20 as part of the 8,000-mile buildout. Mark Monroe, deputy director of the state broadband initiative, reported that the project is ahead of schedule, with over 2,500 miles of fiber already under construction, including 10 miles completed along Highway 20 last summer.
- Last-Mile Buildout: Fort Bragg must establish connectivity from the middle-mile infrastructure to homes and businesses via last-mile cable and conduit, a centralized data center, and 15 distribution areas. The city has secured a $10.3 million grant for this phase.
- Internet Service Provision: The city is considering acquiring the Mendocino Coast Network (MCN), a local internet provider, for $500,000. Discussions highlighted the potential for municipal internet service to generate $500,000 annually by 2029, despite concerns about competing with larger providers like Comcast and addressing a $4.4 million funding gap.
“There's a lot of what-ifs for me that make me nervous,” Mayor Bernie Norvell admitted, while expressing cautious optimism. Ultimately, the council directed Whippy to finalize the MCN acquisition.
Other City Developments:
In other business, the city council approved a feasibility study to explore treating wastewater effluent to potable standards. Additionally, Police Chief Neil Cervenka announced that the city’s Crisis Response Unit (CRU) has secured funding through 2027 via a $500,000 grant.
Mendocino Coast Health Care District Update:
Meanwhile, the Mendocino Coast Health Care District concluded negotiations with Adventist Health management over lease restructuring, agreeing to minor changes, including a decision to discontinue operating a local hospice thrift store.
