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KITTITAS COUNTY <br /> DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br /> PUBLIC WORKS—BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br /> STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br /> STUDY SESSION DATE: September 23,2024 <br /> TOPIC: Broadband Planning Update- BEAD <br /> ACTION REQUESTED: Direction to Staff <br /> LEAD STAFF: <br /> Joshua Fredrickson <br /> RECOMMENDATION: <br /> Reaffirm County support to extend broadband capabilities through use of the BEAD <br /> grant program. <br /> BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br /> • High speed internet,referred to as Broadband, is identified by the County as <br /> essential infrastructure <br /> • Two grants have been awarded to Kittitas County for broadband expansion <br /> • A third grant is available to the County through the National Telecommunications <br /> and Information Administration Broadband Equity Access and Deployment <br /> Program(BEAD) <br /> BACKGROUND: <br /> Kittitas County has been working for more than two years to secure funding and services <br /> which will allow for expansion of broadband services. Kittitas County has been awarded <br /> two grants to help expand broadband(high speed internet) in the County. Funding <br /> includes a grant through the Public Works Board and another through the Washington <br /> State Broadband Office. This funding will help expand broadband service around the <br /> Thorpe and Edgemont areas. Additional funding for broadband expansion will become <br /> available through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration <br /> (NTIA)Broadband Equity Access and Deployment(BEAD)Program. Public Works has <br /> been working with the County's broadband consultant for development of broadband <br /> expansion phases. <br /> DISCUSSION: <br /> It is estimated that within Kittitas County there are more than 6,500 county residences <br /> without high-speed internet access at home. Also, nearly 85%of low-income households <br /> are not connected with high-speed internet. These gaps affect the ability of local residents <br />