The Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO) says it has signed contracts with seven broadband providers, tribes, and municipalities to begin work on a major affordable Internet expansion plan that should deliver $165 million in investment across nearly a dozen rural Washington counties and Tribal territories.
“Broadband isn’t a luxury anymore,” WSBO Director Jordan Arnold said of the expansion plan. “It’s how kids do homework, how small businesses stay open and how families reach a doctor without driving an hour."
"These contracts cement our commitment to bring that access to communities across our state who’ve been left out for far too long.”
Broadlinc, Concept Communications, Declaration Networks Group, Hood Canal Communications, Kitsap Public Utilities District (PUD), Lummi Indian Business Council, and the Spokane Indian Tribe will leverage a combination of $165 million in federal, state, and private funds to connect an estimated 28,452 households to the Internet.
Most of the impacted areas are rural communities long-neglected by regional dominant telecom monopolies. Contract details indicate that Washington State provided $27.3 million in matched funding to the grantees, who’ll need to conduct National Environmental Protection Act and National Historic Protection Act reviews before construction.
The lion’s share of federal projects will come via the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program made possible by the 2021 infrastructure bill. Washington is expected to receive $736 million in total BEAD funding, which should expand broadband to 166,500 businesses and households online over the next four years.
“This work couldn’t happen without the hard work and partnership of our subgrantees,” Arnold said. “These seven providers have shown they are ready to get to work on these projects. We’re proud to work with them to get BEAD projects moving in Washington.”
Construction timelines vary by project, though the state indicates most locations are expected to be connected within 4 years of contract execution, consistent with BEAD deployment deadlines. Subgrantees have until October 8 to sign their BEAD contracts to begin project work, officials said.
Inline of Kitsap PUD officials celebrating BEAD grant courtesy of Kitsap PUD Facebook page
