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Snohomish County updates ARPA-funded broadband buildout, BEAD applications and digital equity work
Summary
County senior policy adviser Jason Bierman told the council on Jan. 7 that ARPA-funded projects and federal BEAD/NTIA applications aim to extend service to roughly 13,000 locations countywide, while digital equity efforts seek to help low-income and non-English-speaking residents connect.
Snohomish County senior policy adviser Jason Bierman briefed the County Council on Jan. 7 in the Jackson Boardroom and by remote connection on the county’s ARPA-funded broadband projects, federal BEAD/NTIA application rounds and a digital equity partnership with Sno-Isle Libraries.
Bierman said the county is pursuing three ARPA-funded infrastructure projects and participating in state BEAD planning that together represent roughly 11 county project areas and nearly 13,000 serviceable locations. "We're estimating about 4,500 locations in the Stilly Valley," Bierman said of the largest project, which he described as funded from the state's ARPA allocation and contracted with Ziply to serve locations from Arlington east to Darrington.
The nut of the presentation: the county’s ARPA money is being used for targeted buildouts and a digital-equity program while the state and federal BEAD program will determine larger-area allocations. Bierman said the county has a mix of projects that prioritize unserved and underserved rural areas, community anchor institutions and digital equity.
Key details Bierman provided include: - SR 530 project: Funded through the state's ARPA allocation, estimated cost about $16,700,000,…
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