Rural Washington residents working from home adapt to dearth of high-speed internet connectivity

Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, which forced most employees to work from home and schools to shift to online learning to help stem the spread of COVID-19, has placed even more emphasis on the digital divide in rural areas. The lack of broadband access in rural communities is “a long-term problem and not an easy fix,” said Debra Hansen, director for Washington State University’s Stevens County Extension, and facilitator of the Stevens County and Spokane Tribe Broadband Action Team. “I think with COVID-19, it has really raised everybody’s awareness of (the lack of broadband access) because you can’t apply for unemployment benefits and housing assistance,” she said. “All those things – we’ve been talking about for years.” Although Chewelah, Colville and Kettle Falls in Stevens County have broadband access, a majority of Stevens County residents live in areas where internet is inconsistent and limited. Some students have to drive 20 miles to download homework from area schools, Hansen said.