UPDATE, March 18: Applications for Round 2 of Washington State’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funding may be submitted starting today, the state’s broadband office announced.
“We are excited to open the second round as we work to bring high-speed internet to areas of Washington that haven’t had broadband access previously,” said WSBO Director Aaron Wheeler. “Once completed, these projects will be transformational for Washington’s communities.”
Washington’s Round 2 application window closes on May 16. The announcement noted six Washington counties that did not receive any BEAD applications in Round 1: Asotin, Grant, Grays Harbor, Pacific, Wahkiakum, and Yakima.
Original Story Follows: February 14
The first round of Washington’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program applications, which closed at the end of last month, garnered 307 applications, according to the Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO).
The state has been allocated $1.2 billion from the $42.45 billion program. 77% of BEAD-eligible locations received at least one application. These represent 79% of the broadband service locations (BSLs) in Washington. 49% of Washington’s BEAD-eligible locations received two or more bids.
“We’re working to bring everyone in Washington online,” Commerce Director Joe Nguyen said in the BEAD update.
“The incredible interest in this round of funding makes it clear that people all over Washington want access to fast and reliable internet. I want to thank our partners in the state who have worked so hard to make this day possible and chose to participate in this generational opportunity to change lives in communities that haven’t had access to high-speed internet previously.”
The Washington BEAD awards will be made after three rounds of funding and approval by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), according to the announcement. The NTIA is part of the Department of Commerce.
The press release says that more than 214,000 locations in Washington do not have high-speed broadband service. The 307 BEAD applications covered 180 of Washington’s 236 project areas. Those seeking funds include tribes, counties, public utility districts, ports, and ISPs.
Washington began accepting BEAD applications last November. At that time, plans for a second and third application window were fluid.
Additional information about Washington broadband, including links to state funding resources, state-specific Telecompetitor coverage, awards made, and more, can be found on the Telecompetitor Broadband Nation webpage for the state.
