$84 Million BTOP Grant for Washington

Commerce Secretary Locke -- joined by Sen Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep Jay Inslee (D-WA) -- announced a $84 million Recovery Act investment to help bridge the technological divide, boost economic growth, create jobs, and improve education and healthcare in Washington state.

The grant will bring high-speed Internet access to more than 100 community anchor institutions -- including community colleges, libraries, healthcare facilities, and government agencies -- and lay the groundwork for bringing affordable broadband service to thousands of homes and businesses in the region. The investment will allow the Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet) to deliver new and enhanced broadband capabilities to some of the more remote regions of the state by adding 830 miles of fiber and eight new microwave sites to their existing high-speed network. Among other benefits, the project plans to directly connect the Jamestown S'Klallam tribal center, library, and clinic, and the Shoalwater tribal center and clinic, as well as provide connection opportunities for the Makah tribal center and clinic.

The NoaNet project proposes to:

• Spur more affordable access to broadband Internet services for approximately 380,000 households, 18,000 businesses, and 1,300 anchor institutions by enabling last mile providers to connect to the project¡¦s open network. Eleven local Internet providers have already expressed interest in using the expanded network to provide new services.
• Greatly enhance healthcare delivery in the state by connecting many of the state¡¦s hospitals and clinics to each other and to remote diagnostic imaging, lab and health services.
• Enable libraries in rural communities to provide broadband access to the public, enhancing commerce, education, research, and consumer health.