California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF)

The California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) has been established as a non-profit corporation pursuant to orders from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in approving the mergers of SBC-AT&T and Verizon-MCI in 2005. CETF provides leadership statewide to close the “Digital Divide” by accelerating the deployment and adoption of broadband to unserved and underserved communities and populations. CETF manages a $24 million cross-sector Digital Inclusion fund for the City of San José that will be distributed in grant awards over a ten-year period. It is the city’s largest philanthropic effort in recent history. The San José Digital Inclusion Partnership aims to: 1) Connect 50,000 San José households with universal device access and universal connectivity at speeds of at least 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload over the next 10 years. 2) Ensure 50,000 San José households achieve and sustain the appropriate digital skills proficiency level to stay ahead of technology and increase quality of life outcomes in education, workforce, healthcare and more.