Washington

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.

Whidbey Telephone Company in Island County received an additional $1,031,757 to expand reliable, high‑speed broadband access for unserved or underserved households and businesses. The Washington State Public Works Board awarded the funds after previously allocated Coronavirus Capital Project Fund dollars were returned from earlier projects.

Communities in Island, Kitsap, and Okanogan (WA) counties will receive a combined $5.1 million for four broadband projects to enhance online education, telehealth, public safety and local economic development opportunities, while extending reliable, high-speed broadband access to unserved or underserved households and businesses. The funding is from the Coronavirus Capital Project Fund and was awarded by the Washington State Public Works Board. Awards:

Lightcurve, an internet provider in the State of Washington, announced that applications are now open for its Digital Equity Partnership program. Developed in partnership with the City of Tacoma, the initiative provides free internet service to qualifying organizations serving low-income and underserved populations throughout Tacoma and nearby areas. Through the program, Lightcurve is seeking public, private, and nonprofit organizations that provide critical services or access to underserved members of the community.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration approved Washington’s final Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program proposal, clearing the way for the Washington State Broadband Office to begin awarding $736 million in federal funding and $112 million in state match funding to bring high-speed internet to every part of the state.

In partnership with Pierce County (WA), Astound will soon begin construction to expand the availability of high-speed internet to the Nisqually region. When construction is complete, more than 3,500 homes will gain access to broadband internet, offering symmetrical internet speeds of up to 5 gigabits per second.

In light of concerns stakeholders expressed around the coordination of digital equity efforts in Washington, this audit examined the condition of the state’s current overarching digital equity plan. The Washington State Legislature has assigned key responsibilities around promoting digital equity to the Washington State Broadband Office within the Washington State Department of Commerce and the Washington State Office of Equity.

The Digital Equity Forum, which is supported by the Washington State Office of Equity and the Department of Commerce, released its Biennial Report. It outlines 23 recommendations to integrate digital equity into policies and procedures as a permanent component of public infrastructure, which will help bridge the digital divide.

Governor Bob Ferguson (D-WA) appointed Jordan Arnold to serve as director of the Washington State Broadband Office within the Department of Commerce. Jordan is a public policy professional with experience working in the Biden White House. Arnold’s first day on the job is Jan. 2, 2025.

“[Astound has] been awarded a lot of BEAD projects in the state of Washington as well as Oregon, and that is going to drive a lot of our expansion in the next two to three years.” That’s what Astound Senior Vice President of Operations Jared Sonne, who handles the company’s West Coast operations, said when asked about the provider’s recent provisional wins for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Astound has been provisionally awarded about $112 million in BEAD awards in Oregon, $166 million in Texas, and more than $100 million in Washington (largely as part of a con