SVI Community Work
Connecting Our Community — Because Everyone Deserves Access
Balanced Access
Balanced Access is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization co-founded by Elise Brentnall at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Like so many others, Elise watched the news footage of two little girls doing their homework in the parking lot of a Taco Bell because they had no broadband internet at home. That image stopped her in her tracks.
“I thought — we can help be part of this solution.”
Balanced Access was founded with a clear and independent mission: to eliminate the digital divide in South Santa Clara and San Benito Counties. It operates completely independently from South Valley Internet with its own board of directors, its own leadership, and its own strategic direction.
The Southside Project — Hollister, CA
Gigabit Fiber. Five Years Free. Life Changed.
Before SVI arrived, over 500 residents of the San Benito Farm Labor Camp, Migrant Housing Center, and transitional housing facilities in Hollister had no internet access at all. More than 130 of those residents are children.
That changed when South Valley Internet, in partnership with Balanced Access and the California Public Utilities Commission, built a fiber-to-the-home network serving every household in the project area — delivering gigabit speeds at no cost to residents for five years.
The Southside Project cost $1.8 million. It was funded through a CPUC California Advanced Services Fund grant.
The Aromas–San Juan Fiber Project
120 Miles. 1,100+ Households. One Mission.
Funded by a $29.4 million CPUC grant, the project will bring fiber-to-the-home service and fixed wireless broadband to more than 1,100 currently unserved households across portions of San Benito, Santa Cruz, and Monterey Counties.
When complete, residents will have access to speeds up to 8 Gbps symmetrical. Qualifying low-income households will receive service for just $15 per month for five years.
Our Rotary Roots and Community Service
Industry Leadership
Elise Brentnall’s board service includes:
- CalTel — California competitive local exchange carriers
- California ISP Association (CISPA)
- Fiber Internet Service Providers of America (FISPA) — ran FISPALive conference for three years
- INCOMPAS — current board member; national trade association for competition policy
Get Involved
- Need assistance with internet access? Call 800-899-4125 and ask to speak with Tami or Lisa.
- Want to support the mission? Donations to Balanced Access directly fund digital equity programs.
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How Can We Help?
Please let us know how we can help or if you have any questions about our services. We love to help!