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Work on a broadband network to reach rural communities in North Central Idaho has kicked off thanks to the West Coast’s most inland port.
Edited by Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
The Port of Lewiston, the West Coast’s most inland port, has begun work on a project to deploy a 92-mile broadband “backbone” network.
The network, when completed, will provide high-speed internet to underserved rural communities in North Central Idaho, according to a recent report filed by KOZE FM.
The Port of Lewiston’s website further explains the project, and how it all began.
“In 2016, the Port of Lewiston began constructing dark fiber optic infrastructure within the Port District to establish an open access telecommunications network for economic development purposes,” the port’s website states. “To date, the Port has constructed approximately 52 miles of dark fiber optic infrastructure including redundant paths across the Southway and Memorial Bridges.”
According to the Port of Lewiston, “constructing public infrastructure is what municipal government and ports do.”
“Building open access fiber optic infrastructure is no different than constructing a public road; instead of moving vehicles, you are moving data,” the port’s website explained. “This project is an effort to ‘bridge the digital divide’ and provide an open access highway to any and all interested service providers.”
According to KOZE FM’s LV Valley News, Crown Utilities is the contractor for the project and is based out of Idaho.
Fiber optic cable between Moscow and Lewiston is the first phase of the project, and began recently, KOZE FM reported.
Lewiston, with a population over 30,000, is located over 460 miles away from the Pacific Ocean along the Snake River, which supports barge services, the community’s website states.
AI tools from Noah Wire Services generated some material in this report.
