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Kittitas County authorizes up to seven BEAD grant applications totaling as much as $90 million
Summary
The Kittitas County commissioners approved a resolution authorizing submission of up to seven applications to the Washington State Broadband Office under the federal BEAD program, with the county proposing to partner with two internet service providers and using state match funding where available.
Kittitas County commissioners approved a resolution authorizing the chair to submit up to seven applications to the Washington State Broadband Office under the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.
The resolution allows the county to pursue grant awards for up to seven distinct project areas, with an upper-end combined request of $90 million. Josh Frederickson, Public Works, told the board the county has identified several project areas and is coordinating applications with two private internet service providers, identified in the meeting as Inland and YCurve.
The county plans to use the BEAD program, managed through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and administered in Washington by the Washington State Broadband Office. Frederickson said the federal grant would cover 75% of project costs; the state legislature has authorized matching funds to cover the remaining 25% and the county, as a public body, is eligible to receive that state match. He said the county expects to submit applications before the end of the month and is still refining cost estimates.
Frederickson said the state office split Kittitas County into seven project areas by grouping unserved or underserved locations and identifying broadband-serviceable locations. He said the county will submit separate applications for each area and that the selected providers would perform construction, maintenance and other work if awarded funds. The county is working with a broadband consultant and the two ISPs on application materials.
The board approved the resolution as part of its consent agenda vote.
The resolution authorizes the public works director to sign application documents, acknowledges that future grant-award agreements may include procurement and cybersecurity requirements, and recognizes potential further documents if awards are made. Frederickson said the county expects several thousand locations could be eligible for service through the proposed projects.
