The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has approved Washington’s final Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program proposal, clearing the way for the Washington State Broadband Office to begin awarding $736 million in federal funding and $112 million in state match funding to bring high-speed internet to every part of the state.
That combines with other sources for more than a billion in total funding to support broadband expansion, the Washington State Department of Commerce said on Feb. 27.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
“The approval is a significant milestone in Washington’s efforts to close the digital divide and ensure that every resident has access to reliable, high-speed internet. BEAD projects will bring about 166,500 businesses and households online over the next four years in Washington,” the Washington State Department of Commerce said.
Construction timelines vary by project, but all construction must be completed within four years. WSBO anticipates that some projects will break ground this year.
The next step is beginning contracting and construction on the projects, which include fiber, fixed wireless and low-earth satellite. There are 238 project areas in under- and unserved locations across the state.
This approval follows Washington’s submission of its final proposal in September.
The proposal outlined the state’s strategy for awarding funds to Internet Service Providers, Public Utility Districts, cooperatives, tribes, and other organizations that will build and expand broadband infrastructure across underserved and unserved areas.
The full list of approved awardees is available on the Washington State Department of Commerce's website.
BEAD by the numbers
- Federal BEAD investment: $736,319,365
- State match funding for public entities and tribes: $112,357,141
- Private match funding: $163,462,118
- Federal match funding: $47,176
- In-kind contributions: $7,804,739
- Total public and private BEAD investment: $1,019,990,539
- Project areas: 238 (Tribal: 9, Non-tribal: 229)
- Homes and small businesses to be connected: 166,503 (approximately 5.3% of Washington households); Unserved locations: 76%; Underserved locations: 24%
Technology types
- Fiber: 58,530 Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs) – 35%
- Fixed Wireless: 63,641 BSLs – 38%
- Low-Earth Orbit Satellite: 44,332 BSLs – 27%
What happens next
With NTIA approval secured, WSBO will:
- Formally announce awards to provisional awardees;
- Execute subgrantee agreements with approved providers;
- Oversee permitting and environmental reviews;
- Begin construction oversight and monitoring;
- Work with awardees to ensure projects are completed on schedule and within budget.
