The Washington State Broadband Office is accepting applications for broadband infrastructure grants until January 17, 2023.
The Washington State Department of Commerce is providing $120 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act capital funding to multiple projects. Projects can qualify for up to $12 million each.
With $120 million available, the grants are targeting areas lacking access to reliable wireline connection service at speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps.
Proposed projects must construct infrastructure designed to deliver broadband service.
Washington’s goal is to provide high-speed internet access for all its residents and businesses by 2028.
PSRC’s Regional Economic Strategy supports expanding broadband access to connect the region’s residents to education and economic opportunities wherever they live and help improve equitable outcomes.
Local governments, federally recognized Tribes, nonprofit and co-op organizations, and multiparty entities with a public partner are eligible to apply.
Also becoming available next year is $900 million in federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding.
To receive the funding, the Washington State Broadband Office, Community Economic Revitalization Board and the Public Works Board are depending on the businesses and residents to help check Federal Communications Commission (FCC) data in a recently published broadband map.
All Washington residents are encouraged to enter their address to find and validate their broadband information on the FCC National Broadband Map.
If the information is incorrect, there are options provided for submitting an “Availability Challenge” or a “Mobile Challenge” to the FCC.
Challenges to the FCC National Broadband Map will be accepted on a rolling basis, but the commission places priority on those received before January 13, 2023