Internet and cell service in Palo Alto

Getting online in Palo Alto works a little differently from most American cities. The city already runs its own electric, gas and water utilities. Now it sells home internet too. That service, called Palo Alto Fiber, competes with the national companies that have served the city for decades. Mobile service is more familiar. The big carriers all sell here and three of them have stores on University Avenue or El Camino Real.

This guide covers the city's fiber plans as the city publishes them, how to compare other home internet options without relying on sales pitches, the carrier stores listed in our directory and the city tax that shows up on phone bills. It does not rank providers or quote private prices, which change too often to print. If you are setting up a new home, read it alongside our moving to Palo Alto checklist.

Palo Alto Fiber, the city's own service

Palo Alto has owned a fiber optic network since the 1990s. For years the city leased strands of that dark fiber to businesses and institutions. More recently it began selling internet service straight to homes. The city's Palo Alto Fiber page calls it local high-speed internet owned and operated by Palo Alto.

In October 2026 the page listed two packages:

Both packages include a free router with WiFi and a firewall. The city also lists advanced security, privacy and transparency commitments and live local support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The equal upload and download speeds matter more than many people expect. Video calls, cloud backups and large file uploads all lean on upload speed, which is often the weak point of cable service.

Checking your address

Coverage is the catch. The network has been built out in stages. Local reporting in January 2026 described a first phase around the Greer Park area. Not every street can order service yet. To find out, enter your address at shopfiber.paloalto.gov, the city's lookup and sign-up site. If your street is not served, the same site lets you express interest. The city also runs an email list for neighborhood updates.

The city's page does not list installation fees, contract terms or a service area map, so ask about those when you order. Installation questions go to (650) 329-2161, the same number as Utilities Customer Service. Our utilities guide explains how that office works and how city services appear on your monthly bill.

Other home internet options

Most Palo Alto addresses can also buy internet from private companies. The options fall into four broad types. Each has its own strengths.

• Cable internet runs over the same coaxial lines that once carried cable TV. It is widely available and download speeds can be high, but upload speeds are usually much lower than download speeds.
• Telephone company service runs over fiber where the phone company has upgraded its lines, or over older copper lines elsewhere. Fiber versions offer equal upload and download speeds. Copper service is much slower.
• Fixed wireless or 5G home internet comes from the mobile carriers. A small receiver in your home picks up the cellular network. AT&T and T-Mobile both list home internet among the services at their Palo Alto stores. Speeds depend on signal strength and how busy the local tower is.
• Satellite internet works almost anywhere with a clear view of the sky. It is mainly useful in the foothills or for backup, since most of the city has wired options.

To see which companies report service at your address, use the Federal Communications Commission's National Broadband Map. Providers report their own coverage, so treat the map as a starting list and confirm with each company.

Questions to ask before you sign

1. What is the monthly price after any introductory period ends?
2. Is there a contract? What does it cost to cancel early?
3. Are there equipment rental, installation or activation fees?
4. What are the upload speeds, not just the download speeds?
5. Is there a monthly data cap?
6. For renters: which providers are already wired into the building? Does the landlord allow new installations?

Write down the answers. Comparing total yearly cost rather than the headline monthly price usually tells you more.

Cell service in town

All of the major national carriers serve Palo Alto. Coverage on the flat part of town, from the Bay to El Camino Real and Stanford, is generally what you would expect in a dense suburb. The terrain changes in the foothills west of Interstate 280. Hills and canyons can block signals there, so check each carrier's coverage map for your exact address if you live or hike up there. Our Foothills Nature Preserve guide is a good reminder to download trail maps before you lose a signal.

Wi-Fi calling helps inside large buildings and older homes with thick walls. Most current phones support it. Turn it on in your phone's settings so calls route over your home internet when the cell signal is weak.

Carrier stores in Palo Alto

Five carrier stores appear in our business directory. Three are downtown within a few blocks of each other. Two are on El Camino Real near Page Mill Road, which is handier for south Palo Alto and Stanford Research Park.

Two details are worth knowing before a visit. First, both Verizon stores are run by Victra, an independent authorized retailer, not by Verizon itself. Authorized retailers sell the carrier's plans and phones, but some account tasks may still need Verizon's own support line or website. Second, several stores let you reserve a time online. A booked visit usually beats waiting in line on a Saturday afternoon. Store hours are listed on each directory page and on the carriers' own sites.

The downtown stores are an easy walk from the Palo Alto Caltrain station. Parking downtown follows the city's garage and lot rules, which our parking guide explains.

The city tax on phone bills

Look closely at a phone bill for a Palo Alto address and you will find a local line item. The city charges a utility users tax on telephone service, including mobile service. Voters approved Measure C in November 2014 with about 85 percent of the vote. It kept the telephone tax but lowered the rate from 5 percent to 4.75 percent and applied it equally regardless of the technology used. The same tax applies at 5 percent to city electric, gas and water charges, according to the municipal code. The money goes to the city's general fund.

Your carrier collects the tax and passes it to the city, so you do not file anything yourself. Our guide to property taxes and city fees explains the utility users tax and other local charges in more detail.

Help paying for service

Lower-income households may qualify for discounted phone or internet service through the federal Lifeline program, which the FCC oversees. California also runs its own LifeLine phone discount through the California Public Utilities Commission. Eligibility usually depends on income or on taking part in programs such as Medi-Cal or CalFresh. Rules and participating companies change, so apply through the official program pages rather than through third-party sign-up sites. You can read about Lifeline on the FCC's Lifeline page.

Free Wi-Fi and places to work

If you are between installations, or simply need a change of scene, the Palo Alto City Library is the best free option. All five branches offer Wi-Fi on the PA_OverAir_Library network, which does not need a password. A library card adds online databases, e-books and streaming films. Our library card guide shows how to get one and our libraries guide covers the branches.

Cafes are another option for an hour or two. For full workdays, a coworking membership gives you reliable internet, a desk and a place for calls. See our coworking guide for spaces in town.

When the power or internet goes out

Home internet equipment needs electricity. During a power outage your modem, fiber terminal and router go dark unless they sit on a battery backup. A small uninterruptible power supply can keep a router and terminal running for a while. Your phone's mobile data remains a fallback as long as nearby towers have power. If the power is out, report it to the city at (650) 496-6914. If only the internet is down, contact your internet provider. Our power outages guide covers the city's outage map and alerts.

Frequently asked questions