A Broadlink representative told Spokane County’s rural‑lands open house that the county’s public development authority has active broadband projects and federal funding that could expand high‑speed internet in rural areas and support dispersed housing and business activity.

Ariane Schmidt (Broadlink) said the authority has deployed five active fiber and fixed‑wireless sites under an initial $5 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant and has received a provisional notice of award for an additional $90 million to bring high‑speed internet to rural addresses. Broadlink’s mission, Schmidt said, is to partner with private internet service providers and local towns to extend broadband to unincorporated areas where connectivity rates remain below minimum standards.

Why this matters: County staff and public commenters noted that reliable broadband can reduce commuting pressure on urban areas by enabling remote work, remote learning and telehealth — potentially increasing options for living in rural activity centers or rural towns without adding pressure to farms and critical‑area lands. Schmidt said better broadband is an essential infrastructure like water and electricity and that Broadlink plans to submit active projects for inclusion in the county’s comprehensive plan road map.

Broadlink’s representative said Spokane County ranked fifth nationally in January 2024 for number of addresses below minimum broadband standards and that the new funding would allow more remote households and small businesses to access education, telehealth and commerce. Schmidt encouraged planners to include broadband projects in the comprehensive plan process so rural communities can benefit from improved connectivity.

Ending: Broadlink committed to sharing project details in the county comment record and to coordinate with planning staff as the county moves through its rural element audit and EIS.