Nevada County Funds $389,000 AT&T Grant for Wolf Mountain Fiber Expansion

GRASS VALLEY — Last week, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution via consent agenda, authorizing a $389,000 grant to AT&T for the construction of fiber lines in the Wolf Mountain area west of Highway 49 in Grass Valley. The grant will serve 155 locations, including households and businesses, and it is funded by $221,574 from the Board Priorities Assignment in the General Fund and $167,426 from Unassigned Fund Balance in the General Fund.

The project forms part of the county’s Last-Mile Broadband Grant Program, which aims to add 936 broadband connections in underserved areas through four grants to internet service providers (ISPs) totaling $1,167,426. The ISPs match the grants, bringing the total investment in the projects to $2,494,801. For the Wolf Mountain project, the county’s cost per connection is $2,510, while the average county cost per connection across all four projects is approximately $1,247.

AT&T’s project in the Wolf Mountain area will provide internet speeds of up to 5,000 megabits per second (Mbps) to households and businesses, with current download speeds as low as 6 Mbps. AT&T has also agreed to provide discounted service to low-income residents, according to Nevada County. The project must be completed within 36 months of the grant’s approval on August 12, with full completion expected by April 2028.

“Reliable high-speed internet is no longer a luxury. This grant will help more residents have the tools they need to thrive in today’s digital world,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Heidi Hall in a press release. Craig Griesbach, Nevada County Director of Information and General Services, added, “This project will give Wolf Mountain area residents the connectivity they need to work, learn, access services, and stay connected with friends and family – strengthening quality of life and economic opportunity for years to come.”