Efforts are underway in Island County to bring broadband internet to underserved areas.

During a work session last week, county commissioners heard a presentation from Broadband Coordinator Cody Bakken about the status of the expansion of internet connectivity. The county has applied for support from Broadlinc, a public development authority in Spokane, to explore the details of a federal program.

Known as Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment, or BEAD, the program offers $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs in all 50 states.

Island County commissioners were asked to approve the memorandum of understanding between the county and Broadlinc. As discussed, the commissioners are not interested in the county owning or operating broadband infrastructure itself, which is where Broadlinc comes in. Since grant funding from the state legislature is being used, there is no cost to the county for the agreement.

One of the projects, Bakken explained, is verification of broadband service location, which helps determine if buildings meet the requirements for the program. It can also help weed out structures that don’t qualify, such as haystacks or doghouses.

Commissioner Jill Johnson asked about undeveloped locations that have the potential to become homes. Bakken responded that the program is specifically for existing homes that need to be served, although he’s working with the planning and public works departments to develop a way to collect information from future homes being built. County Administrator Michael Jones added that the developer of the broadband infrastructure will have no obligation under the federal program to serve a house that’s not there.

Bakken said the project areas were not built based on parcels. One area includes North Whidbey through Coupeville, and another is South Whidbey up to Freeland. There are also two areas on Camano Island.

“So that’s how they’re identifying the project areas, with a grouping of hexes that are supposed to be about 1,000 of these serviceable locations that need to be served,” he said.

Commissioner Melanie Bacon asked how her constituents could find out if their house is included in the project areas. Bakken responded that they could talk to him directly over the phone, 360-679-7397, or email broadband@islandcounty.gov. The Federal Communications Commission also has the information available on its website, broadbandmap.fcc.gov/home.

Internet service providers with an interest in Island County’s project areas include Astound, Comcast, Rallynet, Whidbey Telecom and Ziply Fiber.

Commissioner Janet St. Clair said she was extraordinarily pleased with Bakken’s work and his ability to clarify it for the board and the expectations to the public. She pointed out that for the county to access funding for affordable housing, there needs to be an attestation that internet is available to the community within that area.

Bakken said that besides providing data verification and a letter of support, there are other things that can be done. Another municipality completed road resurfacing as a way to make things more efficient for the internet service providers.

“One of the really great things about this program is that we know the project areas, so we know the locations where they need to do construction in the public right of way,” Bakken said, adding that the project timeline will also be known.

Bakken is currently working with other county departments to identify where code adjustments need to happen so that there can be a blanket permit process for BEAD construction.

The memorandum of understanding was moved to the consent agenda for approval at a future meeting. Bakken informed the commissioners that when he knows which internet service providers will be asking for a letter of support for the BEAD applications, he will be bringing that to them in January. The application deadline is Jan. 31.