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Commissioners support county letter for federal BEAD broadband application; county to coordinate Broadband Action Team
Summary
County staff will sign a letter of support for local BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) grant applications; commissioners agreed staff may sign on the county's behalf without a formal motion and discussed coordinating the local Broadband Action Team (BAT).
Mason County commissioners signaled support Jan. 21 for county staff to provide a letter of support for a local Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) grant application and discussed steps to coordinate broadband planning through the county—facilitated Broadband Action Team (BAT).
A county staff member said Project OD No. 3 (POD No. 3) and local entities are preparing BEAD applications and requested a county letter of support this week. Commissioners raised no objection to the county administrator signing the letter on the county's behalf; no formal motion was required for staff to sign. The staff member said similar requests came from Hood Communications on behalf of the BAT and that the county has worked with WSU Extension and other stakeholders to identify areas lacking high-speed internet.
Staff briefed the board on expected timelines: the application process is open now, awards could be announced in 2025, and construction could occur in 2026 and beyond, though staff cautioned timelines are approximate. Commissioners and staff discussed the BAT's role as a neutral facilitator to prioritize shovel-ready projects and avoid duplicative infrastructure buildouts; the Economic Development Council (EDC) had provided a letter of support, signed by Kevin Schutte, to help the BAT's efforts.
Commissioners agreed to place the topic on the next Monday briefing and invited county staff and BAT representatives to the briefing so the board could discuss coordination and next steps.
Actions and next steps
- County administrator authorized to sign a letter of support for local BEAD grant applications on behalf of the county (no formal motion required; commissioners raised no objection). - Staff to schedule the item for a Monday briefing and invite BAT/EDC stakeholders for further discussion and coordination.
Context
The BEAD program is a federal broadband grant program to expand high-speed internet to underserved areas. Staff noted the BAT has pulled providers and stakeholders together to develop shovel-ready projects and that local planning and coordination are necessary to position Mason County for federal funding.
