Washington’s Broadband Buildout: What’s Happening Now?

Broadband programs spend years in planning, mapping, applications, and approvals. But eventually, the work has to move from paper to the field. That is where Washington state finds itself now. Jordan Arnold, Director of the Washington State Broadband Office, discusses how the state’s broadband strategy is taking shape. Arnold stepped into the role in January 2026, just before Washington received federal approval for its final Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment proposal. The state is now working through the early implementation phase, with 26 subgrantees, contract signatures underway, environmental and historic preservation reviews moving, invoices being approved, and early construction getting closer.