Cruzio Internet

What Cruzio Internet does

Cruzio Internet is a privately held, 100% locally owned Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) founded in 1989 in Santa Cruz, California, by co-founders Peggy Dolgenos (CEO) and Chris Neklason, who continue to own and operate the business. The company delivers residential, business, and enterprise broadband internet over an independent hybrid fiber-wireless network spanning Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and Monterey Counties, including fixed-wireless last-mile coverage in areas where AT&T and Comcast have not deployed infrastructure. Revenue is generated primarily through monthly recurring subscriptions across a tiered product portfolio: residential wireless broadband from $74.95/month, business broadband up to 100 Mbps from $99.95/month, dedicated enterprise internet up to 1+ Gbps from $499/month, colocation from $449/month, coworking memberships and office space ($199–$849/month), and Ooma Premier VoIP at $14.99/month. Distribution combines a downtown walk-in storefront, a website-based address-availability checker for self-service sign-ups, and a direct enterprise/government sales team serving municipalities, school districts, and anchor institutions such as Joby Aviation, Granite Construction, and the Santa Cruz Warriors.

The underlying network comprises 10 Gbps of fiber transport between Cruzio's LEED-certified 12,000+ sq ft headquarters at 877 Cedar Street and Lumen (formerly Level 3) and Hurricane Electric internet gateways, redundant 80 kW UPS and 150 kW generator-backed power at the on-site data center, and an open-access middle-mile backbone built through the Equal Access Summits to the Sea (EAS2C) project funded by a $5.65 million CPUC grant approved in February 2024. The EAS2C infrastructure includes 35 broadband distribution hubs capable of serving 5,000+ additional households and provides open access for other ISPs. Beyond connectivity, Cruzio operates the Cruzioworks coworking and event facility in the same headquarters building, and runs the Equal Access digital-equity program in partnership with the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, which has connected 1,200+ students and families since 2021. Customer base spans approximately 9,000 households and 2,000+ businesses; named enterprise and government customers include Santa Cruz County, the Cities of Santa Cruz/Watsonville/Capitola, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Pacific Collegiate School, Joby Aviation, Granite Construction, Chaminade Resort, and the Santa Cruz Warriors.

Name

Cruzio Internet

Legal name

Cruzio Internet

Website

https://cruzio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cruzio Internet is a privately held Santa Cruz-based CLEC founded in 1989 that delivers residential, business, and enterprise broadband over an independent hybrid fiber-wireless network across Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and Monterey Counties, serving approximately 9,000 households and 2,000+ businesses alongside colocation, coworking, and digital-equity services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Broadband Internet Services

NAICS

Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711), Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111)

SIC

Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813)

akta.pro primary industry

Rural & Regional ISPs (HDAIADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rural & Universal Service Fixed Broadband Providers (HDAIABAJ), Municipal & Community Broadband Networks (HDAIACAE)

Keywords

• Broadband internet services
• Fiber optic connectivity
• Fixed wireless internet
• Data center colocation
• Coworking workspace

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Cruz

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Internet Service Subscriptions: Monthly recurring subscriptions for residential and business broadband internet service, ranging from entry-level home plans to dedicated enterprise connections. Plans offered at multiple speed tiers with no data caps or contracts on most tiers.
2. Colocation Services: State-of-the-art secure data center colocation services at Cruzio's downtown Santa Cruz facility, offering fully-redundant fiber connectivity and power for business servers.
3. Dedicated Internet Access: Enterprise-grade dedicated bandwidth connections providing robust, scalable, infrastructure-grade bandwidth with up to 1+Gbps throughput for business customers.
4. Coworking Memberships: Flexible workspace memberships including office suites, 9-5 memberships, 24/7 keycard access, dedicated workstations, and day passes at Cruzio's Cruzioworks coworking facility in downtown Santa Cruz.
5. Phone Services: Ooma Premier VoIP phone service bundled with internet subscriptions, offering features including free calling to Canada and Mexico, conferencing, voicemail, and call management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cruzio Internet provides broadband internet, colocation, and coworking services across Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and Monterey Counties through its own hybrid fiber-wireless network. It sells residential and business broadband subscriptions, dedicated enterprise connectivity up to 1+ Gbps, fixed wireless service, secure data center colocation, Ooma VoIP phone service, and Cruzioworks flexible workspace memberships. The company also operates the Equal Access program to deliver subsidized connectivity to underserved low-income and agricultural communities.

Product overview

Cruzio Internet is a multi-service technology company offering a portfolio of connectivity and workspace solutions. The core offering consists of residential and business broadband internet services delivered via fiber and fixed wireless technologies across Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and Monterey Counties. The company operates Cruzioworks, a downtown coworking and colocation facility that includes various membership tiers (office space, workstations, day passes, 24/7 access, meeting rooms) and provides state-of-the-art data center colocation services. Additional services include VoIP phone service (Ooma Premier) and the Equal Access initiative for digital equity. The company operates as a registered CLEC and has expanded through infrastructure projects funded by California Public Utilities Commission grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cruzioworks: Coworking and colocation facility located at 877 Cedar Street, downtown Santa Cruz, offering flexible workspaces, gigabit-speed Wi-Fi, private offices, conference rooms, and event space for up to 300 people.
• Equal Access
• Equal Access Summits to the Sea (EAS2C)

Products and services

• Residential Broadband High-speed internet connectivity for homes in Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and Monterey Counties, delivered via fiber and fixed wireless options across multiple speed tiers with no data caps or contracts on most plans.
• Business Basic Broadband Business-grade wired broadband offering 100 Mbps download and upload with professional installation, priority business support, no data caps or contracts, and VoIP/cloud-ready service for SMB customers starting at $99.95/month.
• Dedicated Enterprise Broadband Infrastructure-grade dedicated bandwidth for enterprise and government customers providing robust, scalable connectivity up to 1+ Gbps from $499/month for mission-critical operations.
• Fixed Wireless Broadband Wireless broadband service utilizing point-to-point and point-to-multipoint technology to deliver gigabit-capable speeds to areas where fiber is unavailable, including rural and agricultural communities across the Central Coast.
• Cruzioworks Coworking Downtown Santa Cruz coworking and colocation facility offering flexible workspaces, gigabit-speed Wi-Fi, private offices, conference rooms, an on-site coffee bar, and event space for up to 300 people at 877 Cedar Street.
• Cruzioworks Office Space Fully furnished, fiber-connected private office space within the Cruzioworks coworking facility in downtown Santa Cruz, starting at $849/month and move-in ready for small businesses and remote teams.
• Cruzioworks Meeting Rooms Conference and meeting space rental at the Cruzioworks fiber hub in downtown Santa Cruz for up to 300 people, starting at $49/hour, available for client meetings, workshops, and community events.
• Colocation Services State-of-the-art secure data center colocation at Cruzio's LEED-certified Santa Cruz facility with fully-redundant fiber connectivity and power, starting at $449/month for business servers.
• Ooma Premier VoIP Phone Service VoIP home phone add-on bundled with Cruzio internet subscriptions, offering PureVoice HD technology, free calling to Canada and Mexico, three-way conferencing, voicemail, call blocking, and voicemail-to-email at $14.99/month.
• Equal Access Program Digital equity initiative partnering with the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County to deliver affordable high-speed internet to low-income families and underserved communities, combining CPUC grant funding with donations to subsidize service and build infrastructure.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,000+ students and families connected to new affordable internet access since 2021 through Equal Access Santa Cruz County initiative
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, minor and supporting.

• Coastside.netcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022In 2022, Cruzio merged with Coastside.net, its neighboring ISP on the San Mateo Coastside. Rob Genovesi, the long-time owner-operator of Coastside.net, collaborated with Cruzio's Chris Frost and James Hackett to pursue the Equal Access Summits to the Sea (EAS2C) grant. The partnership combined Coastside.net's extensive knowledge of the Coastside region and existing infrastructure with Cruzio's resources and grant application capabilities, significantly expanding Cruzio's coverage area to include the San Mateo Coastside region.
• Community Foundation Santa Cruz CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Cruzio partners with the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County on the Equal Access initiative, which aims to bridge the digital divide across the Central Coast. The partnership combines LEP grant funding with donations from individuals and businesses to build new infrastructure and subsidize service for communities that need it most. The initiative launched in 2021 and has connected over 2,000 students and families. The Community Foundation provides philanthropic backing and early-stage investment that helps attract sustaining grant funding.
• Santa Cruz County School DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCruzio works with local school districts as part of the Equal Access Santa Cruz County (EASC) initiative, launched in 2021 during COVID-19 lockdowns. The partnership identified students and families lacking home internet access and built broadband distribution hubs (PoPs) to connect them. Over 1,200 students and families were connected, with infrastructure capable of serving 5,000+ more households.
• Department of Emergency ManagementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCruzio is partnering with the Department of Emergency Management on the Coastal Resiliency Infrastructure Strategic Plan (CRISP). Through the EAS2C project, Cruzio integrates fire alert cameras into the network, bolstering public safety across fire-prone coastal and mountain communities. This supports emergency communications and early warning capabilities.
• South Valley InternetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Valley Internet (SVI), led by COO and President Elise Brentnall, participated alongside Cruzio on a CPUC CASF Line Extension Program panel in April 2026. SVI shared its experience connecting the Southside project area (94+ housing units, 500+ residents) under the same LEP program, and both companies discussed their respective approaches to bridging the digital divide for unserved agricultural and low-income communities.
• Crown CastlesupportingTechnology or IntegrationCrown Castle provides middle-mile fiber infrastructure that Cruzio leverages for backhaul connectivity. The San Jerardo project used CPUC-funded Crown Castle fiber as part of the backhaul solution to connect the cooperative to high-speed internet.
• Local School Districts (Equal Access Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2020, Cruzio has worked with school districts alongside state and local agencies to design infrastructure projects that bring next-generation broadband service to communities. The EASC project worked with local districts during COVID-19 to identify students without home internet access and deploy connectivity solutions.
• Think Local FirstminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCruzio partners with Think Local First, a local business organization, for community events. The two organizations co-hosted Cruzio's 35th anniversary celebration and other community mixers, promoting local economic vitality and the 'buy local' ethos.
• John Hope ElectricsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJohn Hope Electric is a local vendor used by Cruzio for construction and electrical work on infrastructure projects. The company was relied upon to build robust and reliable infrastructure for the EAS2C project on time and under budget.
• Santa Cruz Community Credit UnionsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSanta Cruz Community Credit Union is a local partner that provided expertise and support for the EAS2C project build, contributing to the project's on-time and under-budget completion.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sonic (Sonic.net): Largest independent California-based ISP, also operating as a CLEC with fiber and fixed wireless across Northern and parts of Central California. Closest direct comparable: similarly founder-led, customer-focused independent ISP competing against AT&T and Comcast with gigabit fiber.
• Race Communications: California-based independent fiber ISP focused on rural and underserved communities, often using CASF and state grant funding — directly comparable business model, customer base, and funding sources to Cruzio's.
• Etheric Networks: Bay Area fixed wireless ISP serving San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Silicon Valley. Directly comparable: same hybrid fiber/wireless technology, same enterprise and underserved-residential customer segments, and overlapping geographic footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Ziply Fiber: Regional fiber ISP in the Pacific Northwest operating a hybrid fiber/wireless network for residential and enterprise customers; comparable business model, but serves a different geography (OR/WA/ID/MT) and is private equity-backed at much larger scale.
• Astound Broadband: Regional cable and fiber broadband provider serving parts of California with residential and SMB connectivity. Overlaps in service category and customer base but operates as a much larger, multi-region incumbent with broader portfolio offerings.
• Frontier Communications: National rural/regional fiber and copper telecom with significant California presence. Competes for the same residential and SMB broadband customers in Cruzio's footprint, but at vastly greater scale and with deeper fiber overbuild capability.
• Consolidated Communications: Regional wireline telecom and broadband provider serving smaller markets and rural communities across multiple states. Similar customer and use-case profile to Cruzio, but at much larger scale and broader geography.
• AT&T California: Incumbent ILEC and primary national broadband competitor to Cruzio across its California service area. Competes for the same residential, SMB, enterprise, and government customers with much greater capital, marketing, and bundling capability.
• Comcast (Xfinity) California: Largest cable broadband provider in Cruzio's Santa Cruz/San Mateo/Monterey footprint. Direct competitor on residential and SMB broadband with aggressive multi-gig fiber upgrade plans and bundled service offerings.

Others

• Crown Castle: Tower and middle-mile fiber infrastructure provider that supplies backhaul fiber to Cruzio (used in the San Jerardo deployment). Indirectly comparable as a critical infrastructure partner rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cruzio
• Facebookfacebook.com/cruzio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cruzio-internet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cruzio Internet