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Broadlink outlines BEAD-funded broadband rollout in Spokane region and connectivity supports for health services
Summary
Broadlink told regional leaders about a BEAD allocation covering thousands of unserved addresses in Spokane County and described hybrid fiber/wireless strategies, a mobile "community center in a box," and plans to reconnect digital subsidy programs locally to support health and telecare access.
Broadlink, the Spokane County public development authority for broadband, briefed regional health leaders on federal BEAD funding allocations and local plans to extend high‑capacity internet to underserved addresses — an effort county leaders said will support telehealth, virtual care navigation and other services.
"Of this BEAD funding, for Spokane County, we're really fortunate that Broadlink is sitting at about 13 of the 24 areas that are receiving funding that totals about $90,000,000 to bring Internet to the about 20,000 eligible addresses," said Ariane Schmidt, Broadlink executive director.
Schmidt described a hybrid deployment strategy — fiber where feasible and fixed wireless where topography and density make fiber impractical — and said the federal funding requires buildout by 2029. She also described a USDA-funded "community center in a box": a relocatable containerized unit with a telecommunications room, three HIPAA‑compliant meeting rooms and a 120‑foot tower intended to provide temporary broadband and meeting capacity adjacent to a public building (for example, a fire station). After the grant period the asset would be available for redeployment.
Why this matters: regional providers told the meeting they expect broadband access will be essential to telehealth follow‑up, digital navigation and remote monitoring tied to crisis and outpatient services. Schmidt also noted the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) subsidy has lapsed at the federal level and Broadlink is working with city and county partners to pilot a local subsidy to replicate ACP benefits for low‑income households.
Local details: Broadlink said the county's allocation includes significant fiber and targeted fixed‑wireless projects in rural areas including Pend Oreille, Stevens, Ferry, Lincoln and Adams counties. Schmidt urged health partners to coordinate on digital literacy and subsidy plans so that patients leaving crisis or outpatient settings have an internet pathway to telecare.
Ending: Broadlink invited health partners to join local broadband action teams and offered to coordinate subsidy and navigation pilots to support patients with telehealth needs.
