PRESS RELEASE: Community Leaders Bring Free High-Speed Internet to More Than 350 Low-Income Residents in West Fresno

Community leaders and residents celebrate the rollout of a new fiber broadband network at Sequoia Courts and Sequoia Courts Terrace, bringing free high-speed internet to more than 350 residents. 

Fresno, CA – On Friday, June 12, 2026, community leaders and residents gathered to celebrate the completion of a new broadband network at Sequoia Courts and Sequoia Courts Terrace, a public housing complex in Fresno serving low-income residents. The future-proof, fiber-optic network offers free, high-speed internet access to more than 350 residents across 138 homes.  

By bringing reliable connectivity directly to residents, the project offers a replicable model for expanding digital equity across affordable housing communities in the Central Valley. Construction and deployment of the network was made possible through a partnership with Fresno Housing, Fresno Coalition for Digital Inclusion (FCDI), United Way Fresno & Madera Counties, and Central Valley Community Foundation (CVCF). 

“I applaud the outstanding community organizations that championed this project to secure high-speed home internet for the people and families who live at Sequoia Courts and Sequoia Courts Terrace. And, I couldn’t be happier for the residents,” said California Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula, a longtime digital equity advocate. “This project will help them access information and opportunities, from education to health care and more. It literally will open the world to them and help strengthen the future of our community.”

Located on a 17-acre public housing site, the Sequoia Courts and Sequoia Courts Terrace features 69 residential buildings, along with shared community spaces and outdoor areas. The community is home to 160 school-age children. Thanks to the project’s fiber backbone and individual fiber connections to each residential building, every household will have access to a secure, private Wi-Fi connection at no cost for at least five years.  

“Housing is the foundation for opportunity, but opportunity also requires connection—to schools, doctors, employers, public services, friends, and family,” said Tyrone Roderick Williams, CEO of Fresno Housing. “This project will help hundreds of Fresno residents stay connected to the people, services, and opportunities they rely on every day.” 

“Reliable high-speed internet has become an everyday necessity for education, employment, and healthcare,” said Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias. “Thanks to the strong community partnerships and shared investment, Sequoia Courts and Sequoia Terrace residents will now have free access to this essential tool, allowing them to succeed and pursue new opportunities as our world continues to move forward digitally.” 

Project was funded through $1M in grants from the California Public Utilities Commission’s Broadband Public Housing Account (BPHA) and the Economic Development Department’s Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF). CVCF facilitated early cross-sector conversations that resulted in the development of the project’s framework. From there, United Way and FCDI collaborated to develop the regional CERF grant. After securing the CERF grant, FCDI and Fresno Housing then applied for the BPHA grant and began developing the project’s construction plans. By securing the BPHA grant, partners were able to double the number of residents who could be served by the project.  

“The Sequoia Courts broadband project shows what is possible when housing providers, community organizations, state agencies, foundations, and technical partners convene to bring reliable internet access directly to the residents who need it most.” said Kevin Miller, Board President of FCDI.  “This project also highlights the need for reforms to public housing broadband grant programs to scale this success to communities throughout the region.” 

The Sequoia Courts broadband project is part of a larger regional effort to expand economic opportunity through digital equity in the Central Valley. Through the Connect the Valley coalition, which is led by FCDI, housing providers, community organizations, philanthropic partners, and public agencies have come together to expand broadband infrastructure and boost digital literacy in Madera, Kings, Fresno, and Tulare counties.  Partners hope to apply the Sequoia Courts broadband project model to future projects throughout the region, helping more affordable housing communities secure the funding, technical support, and partnerships needed to deliver reliable internet access to Central Valley residents. 

“I’ve seen firsthand how much harder life can be for families in Fresno and Madera without reliable internet access,” said Stephanie Nathan, President and CEO of United Way Fresno & Madera Counties. “This project addresses that reality by giving low-income residents the tools they need to learn, work, access services, and build a more stable future.” 

“Broadband access is essential to building a more inclusive, prosperous, and resilient Central Valley,” said Ashley Swearengin, the President and CEO of Central Valley Community Foundation. “This project is exactly the kind of practical place-based investment that should serve as a blueprint for the rest of the region.”  

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Fresno Housing 

Fresno Housing works to create vibrant communities, build quality, affordable housing, and empower nearly 50,000 residents to achieve their goals. For more information, follow us on social media @fresnohousing, or visit www.fresnohousing.org. 

Fresno Coalition for Digital Inclusion (FCDI) 

Fresno Coalition for Digital Inclusion (FCDI) helps organizations and local governments move the needle on digital equity, developing data to assess problems, and then partnering to implement the solutions. FCDI offers various kinds of support to local, regional, and statewide entities, ranging from project and fund development to strategic communications and advocacy. In 2025, FCDI established Connect the Valley (CtV), a regional coalition that aims to bridge the digital divide in Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Tulare counties. 

United Way Fresno & Madera Counties 

At United Way Fresno and Madera Counties, we are here for our community, helping individuals and families move from survival to stability. Through programs and partnerships that support financial stability, education, and overall well-being, we connect people to the resources, opportunities, and support they need to build a stronger future and thrive. 

Central Valley Community Foundation (CVCF)   

The Central Valley Community Foundation connects capital and communities for a just and thriving Central Valley. As the only nationally accredited community foundation serving Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings, Merced and Mariposa counties, CVCF has nearly six decades of experience driving strategic investments, supporting local nonprofits and maximizing the impact of charitable giving. Today, more than 260 donor funds fuel CVCF’s work to advance equity and opportunity throughout the Central Valley.