News
Over $20 million for broadband infrastructure projects described as critical have been approved by the Washington State Public Works Board.
By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
Approximately 6,000 unserved locations in Washington State will soon have access to high-speed broadband thanks to recently approved funding for 10 projects across five counties.
In total, $21 million in funding was approved by the Washington State Public Works Board.
The money includes $4 million in funding to the Jefferson Public Utility District for a project called the Northeast Olympic FTTP project. The project involves plans to lay more than 370 miles of fiber to reach over 3,200 end-user locations. Once completed, the project will reach the communities of Quilcene, Sequim, Port Townsend, Port Hadlock, Chimacum, and Nordland, according to a May 7 announcement from the Washington State Public Works Board.
Other projects awarded funding include $5 million to the Okanogan County Electric Cooperative to build over 40 miles of fiber that will reach 244 end users in the Methow Valley, $3.8 million to the Okanogan Public Utility District to build 22 miles of middle mile fiber from Conconully to connect 367 end users, and $2 million to the Spokane Regional Broadband Development Authority to build 21 miles of fiber that will reach 500 unserved locations in rural Spangle, Waverly, and Fairfield.
Additionally, nearly $4.5 million has been set aside for Whidbey Telephone Company, also known as Whidbey Telecom, which is planning to construct 44 miles of fiber to reach over 1,500 end users in the Clinton area, and $800,000 has been allocated to Klick Networks, LLC for a project that will connect 400 end users in the Trout Lake region.
Kathryn A. Gardow, the chair of the Washington State Public Works Board said the money awarded, which is a combination of loans and grants, includes favorable loan terms and below-market interest rates. Geographically, the work involves an area that includes locations in Island, Jefferson, Klickitat, Okanogan, and Spokane counties, according to the Washington State Public Works Board.
“The (Public Works Board) makes funding affordable for those communities with little or no reliable broadband service and for the infrastructure fundamental to a high quality of life for all Washingtonians,” Gardow said, according to the board’s release.
According to the Washington State Department of Commerce, the state’s Public Works Board has roughly $1 million in emergency broadband funding remaining.
