Better internet infrastructure coming to rural Placer communities. Find out where

Better internet is coming soon to rural parts of Placer County, according to a new initiative approved Tuesday.

The Placer County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $17 million in funding to bring broadband infrastructure to Sheridan, Newcastle, Loomis, North and South Auburn, Meadow Vista and a neighborhood in Granite Bay. The entire project will cost $31 million.

The expansion project is expected to bring improved internet to 17,847 homes.

“The allocated funds aim to address the pressing need for broadband services in areas that are currently unserved due to inadequate or outdated infrastructure,” the county said in a news release. “This will enable more people to take advantage of the educational and economic opportunities the internet provides.”

Work is expected to begin immediately, the county said.

“We are committed to ensuring all our residents have access to the same resources, regardless of where they live,” said Chair Jim Holmes, who represents the Auburn area. “This is an important step in bridging the digital divide in Placer County and ensuring everyone has access to a better quality of life.”

The project is the latest action by county officials to improve connectivity across the county. In 2021, the Board of Supervisors also approved a $2.2 million to bring fiber-optic internet to 1,500 households in Penryn and North Auburn.

This story was originally published April 20, 2023 at 7:16 AM.