03/26/2026
BUILDLAB
5 min readThe CASF Grant Explained: How CPUC Funds Affordable Housing Broadband
The California Advanced Services Fund can offset the entire cost of your in-building broadband infrastructure. Here is how to qualify and apply.
The California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) is administered by the California Public Utilities Commission. It exists to extend broadband infrastructure to underserved populations — and affordable housing is one of its priority categories.
What it covers
For qualifying affordable housing projects, CASF can fund the in-building broadband infrastructure required to deliver service to every unit and common area. That includes structured cabling, network electronics, wireless access points, and installation labor. In practice, that means the entire low-voltage scope tied to broadband can be grant-funded.
Who qualifies
- LIHTC-funded affordable housing developments serving qualifying income bands.
- Permanent supportive housing.
- Projects in areas CPUC has designated as unserved or underserved.
- Developers willing to commit to ongoing complimentary or subsidized resident service tiers.
The application
CASF applications are competitive and require coordinated documentation: site plans, infrastructure specifications, ISP partnership letters, and a clear demonstration of resident benefit. Reviewers want to see the entire technology plan, not just a budget line.
Timing
The CASF cycle is on its own clock — separate from your construction schedule, your TCAC submission, and your closing dates. Applications that miss the cycle wait six to twelve months for the next one. Plan the CASF application as a milestone alongside design development.
