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County cites $48M in broadband awards for unserved areas; Axe Handle cell tower upgrade due in April
Summary
Eric Brown said Washoe County received about $48 million in state broadband funding for unserved and underserved areas and that carriers awarded contracts — including Sky Fiber — will deploy wired and fixed‑wireless technologies; Verizon expects an Axe Handle tower upgrade by April.
Washoe County Manager Eric Brown told the Warren Springs Rural Citizen Advisory Board that the Nevada Office of Science, Innovation and Technology announced roughly $48,000,000 in broadband funding for Washoe County to extend service to unserved and underserved areas.
Brown said Sky Fiber was awarded a contract to serve parts of Warm Springs and Palomino Valley and that deployments will likely combine wired and fixed‑wireless technologies depending on terrain and line‑of‑sight constraints. "I suspect you're gonna see a combination of wired and wireless necessary," he said, noting weather can affect wireless links.
Brown also said Verizon informed the county that the Axe Handle tower will be upgraded by April, improving cellular coverage in that gap area. "So that should improve, your cellular service, footprint in that, you know, in that gap area," he said.
Why it matters: Expanded broadband and improved cellular coverage can affect residents' access to education, telehealth and public services in rural and semi‑rural parts of the county. Brown cautioned that contracts had not been finalized and that the state and vendors were still negotiating terms.
Next steps: Brown said the county will share contract details once finalized and expects vendors to begin deployments in awarded areas.
