On February 21, VARCOMM hosted a groundbreaking ceremony in Terra Bella, Calif., a rural community approximately 30 miles southeast of Visalia, to kick off its new rural broadband expansion project in Tulare County. The project will bring VARCOMM’s broadband network to approximately 1,312 previously unserved locations in the Terra Bella area and is expected to be completed by 2026. The groundbreaking was held at Setton Park, graciously provided by Setton Pistachios.
The expansion is made possible by a more than $10 million Federal Funding Account (FFA) grant from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which supports infrastructure projects and ongoing efforts to build awareness about affordable connectivity services like VARCOMM provides.
As part of this expansion, VARCOMM already delivers reliable high-speed internet to local businesses and has installed equipment at Setton Park, establishing it as a key hub for broadband innovation in the region. This partnership has made strides in local connectivity.
Eric Vartaw, a Mexican American entrepreneur, and co-owner Jenifer Vellucci make VARCOMM the first Mexican American and woman-owned incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC). CPUC Commissioner Darcie Houck and Tulare County Supervisor Dennis Townsend joined representatives from the offices of Congressman David Valadao, Senator Melissa Hurtado, and Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo in recognizing the development. Alongside community members, VARCOMM staff, Setton Pistachios spokesman Fernando Rios, and Ducor Elementary School officials, they helped celebrate this much-needed advancement.
VARCOMM is committed to providing reliable, high-speed internet without lags or disruptions. Subscribed residents and businesses can seamlessly browse the web, check emails, transfer large files, and participate in virtual meetings with the necessary bandwidth at affordable prices. As a trusted, locally managed network, VARCOMM is working to ensure communities like those of Terra Bella and nearby Ducor stay connected. This broadband expansion builds on VARCOMM’s existing voice services in Terra Bella, which offer modern calling features, including affordable long-distance options.
For more information, please call 888-539-5234 or visit www.varcomm.net/cal-broadband.