Broadband group talks funding, digital equity

OKANOGAN – The Broadband Action Team (BAT) — formed in 2019 to expand Internet services to all of Okanogan County — held its final meeting of the year on Oct. 26.

Among updates and topics discussed:

• The Okanogan County Electric Cooperative (OCEC) is transacting a contract with the county for its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for $500,000 in matching funds for the Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO) grant to bring Internet services to the upper Methow Valley.

• BAT representative Kayla Wells-Yoakum of WSU Extension and the Okanogan County PUD met with the Board of Okanogan County Commissioners (BOCC) on Oct. 23 to discuss the self-funded Conconully project. Conconully did not receive grant funds so ARPA dollars may be allocated for that. Wells-Yoakum said she requested that BOCC approve $500,000 in ARPA funds apiece for OCEC and Okanogan PUD.

• Economic Alliance Executive Director Roni Holder-Diefenbach reported on her recent attendance at the Oct. 24 Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council (IACC) in Wenatchee. Holder-Diefenbach asked the WSBO director if it makes economic sense to invest $30 million in infrastructure to serve a very limited number of remote homes or consider other broadband options such as satellite. The ongoing discussion about how to best serve remote households is relevant to Okanogan County since it is one of the state’s largest such areas.

• Stafford Strong of Charter Communications said his company stands ready to help get affordable fiber into some of the county’s remote areas but agreed there are a few areas where other technologies might be more appropriate.

“Of all the 15 rural counties we serve, Okanogan County probably has the most economical costing with the most opportunities for us to expand in,” Strong said.

• Holder-Diefenbach said she is working with the NW Digital Equity Coalition to educate people on how to utilize the technologies being provided. That includes the library system, employers provided with refurbished Chromebook laptop computers, conference spaces, and Zoom meetings.

“It’s one thing to put the infrastructure in” said Holder-Diefenbach, “but if nobody knows how to access or utilize it then that’s a problem.”

• Rob Ogburn of Central Washington University delivered a presentation about a tech hub project for the six-county region of Okanogan, Douglas, Chelan, Grant, Yakima, and Kittitas. The principal focus is disaster communications and advanced materials.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483, michael@ward.media