Washington Public Works Board approves $21 million in broadband construction, pre-construction, and emergency grants and loans

The Washington State Public Works Board (PWB) recently approved $21 million in critical infrastructure projects in 10 communities for broadband construction, pre-construction, and emergency funding. Taking action at its May 3, 2024 business meeting, the PWB approved $20 million to expand broadband access in unserved communities, $550,000 for two pre-construction projects, and two emergency infrastructure projects for $514,500. These broadband projects will expand service in Island, Jefferson, Klickitat, Okanogan, and Spokane counties to an estimated 6,000 unserved end user locations, such as homes, businesses, farms, and community anchor institutions:

• Jefferson Public Utility District No. 1: $4 million in broadband construction match funding ($2.8 million loan and $1.2 million grant) for the Northeast Olympic FTTP project. The investment will assist with construction cost increases associated with a prior awards by the Washington State Broadband Office. When complete, the projects will provide approximately 377 miles of fiber for 3,222 end users located in areas of Quilcene, Sequim, Port Townsend, Port Hadlock, Chimacum, and Nordland.
• Klick Networks, LLC:  $800,000 in broadband construction funding ($560,000 loan and $240,000 grant) for the Trout Lake FTTH project to design and construct approximately 15 miles of fiber to expand service availability to nearly 400 end users in the Trout Lake area.
• Okanogan County Electric Cooperative: $5 million in broadband construction funding ($3.5 million loan and $1.5 million grant) for the Okanogan County Connect Phase Two project to construct approximately 42 miles of fiber and expand service availability to 244 end users in the Methow Valley area.
• Okanogan Public Utility District No. 1: $3.8 million in broadband construction funding ($2.66 million loan and $1.14 million grant) for the Conconully FTTx project to expand approximately 22 miles of middle mile infrastructure from Conconully to the PUD’s existing fiber network and service availability to 367 end users.
• Spokane Regional Broadband Development Authority: $2 million in broadband construction funding loan for the South Spokane County Rural Towns Open Access Mid-mile Connectivity project to design and construct approximately 21 miles of fiber to 500 unserved premises in the rural Southeast Spokane County towns of Spangle, Waverly, and Fairfield.
• Whidbey Telephone Company: $4,494,620 in broadband construction funding ($3,730,037 loan and $764,547 grant) for the 2024 Clinton project to design and construct approximately 44 miles of middle and last mile infrastructure, and expand service availability to nearly 1,536 end users in the Clinton area.