Keaton PetersWashington state is moving closer to a major expansion of high-speed Internet access. The state’s plan has drawn significant interest from potential Internet providers, with 307 applications submitted in the first round of the state’s $1.2 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program funding opportunity.
The Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO) reported that the applications, which closed at the end of January, came from a diverse range of organizations including tribes, counties, public utility districts, ports and Internet service providers. The submissions covered 180 of the 236 available project areas, representing about 77% of BEAD-eligible locations across the state.
The strong response to Washington’s BEAD funding is one piece in a broader national push to close the digital divide. The federal program, which provides $42 billion nationwide for broadband infrastructure, comes at a time when high-speed Internet access has become increasingly critical for education, healthcare, and economic opportunity, but many rural communities lack reliable connections.
The program follows a rigorous two-step planning process in which states must first submit detailed proposals explaining how they will expand internet access. Washington has recently cleared a major milestone with federal approval of its Volume II proposal, which outlines implementation plans for deploying broadband infrastructure to unserved and underserved locations and clears the way for the state to begin selecting specific projects for funding.
The applicants are competing to serve over 214,000 locations across Washington that currently lack high-speed broadband service. Nearly half of the BEAD-eligible locations
received multiple bids, suggesting robust competition that could lead to more efficient use of public funds and potentially better service for residents.
One example of the program’s potential impact is a previous $10 million WSBO infrastructure grant awarded to Hood Canal Communications. That project, the Northern Hood Canal Fiber Extension in Jefferson County, is bringing fiber optic service to 862 homes in underserved rural areas, providing faster and more affordable Internet access.
The program maintains broad eligibility criteria, accepting applications from cooperatives, nonprofit organizations, public-private partnerships, private companies, public or private utilities, public utility districts and local and tribal governments. All projects must serve areas identified through the BEAD process, with detailed maps available showing unserved and underserved locations across the state.
The WSBO will now begin the complex process of reviewing applications before announcing future funding rounds. After completing all three planned BEAD application rounds, the office will create a package of potential awardees for federal approval by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
To track progress on closing the digital divide, the WSBO has launched a Digital Equity Dashboard that provides data on technology access and digital literacy skills across different communities in the state.
In a press release, WSBO Director Aaron Wheeler highlighted the collaborative effort behind the program’s launch. “Getting to this point has been a huge lift and wouldn’t have been possible without the support of everyone, including Commerce staff, state legislative partners, the Governor’s Office, federal partners and all our external partners who are helping to make Internet for All a reality in Washington,” Wheeler said.
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