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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: December 23, 2024 <br />TOPIC: Broadband Planning Update <br />ACTION REQUESTED: None Required <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Joshua Fredrickson <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />No action required. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• Two grants have been awarded to Kittitas County for broadband expansion <br />• Plan development for the Thorp and Edgemont areas is underway <br />• Contract is being developed for the second project award <br />• A third grant source is available to the County through the National <br />Telecommunications and Information Administration Broadband Equity Access <br />and Deployment Program (BEAD) <br />• Applications due January 31, 2025 <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Kittitas County has been awarded two grants to help expand broadband (high speed <br />internet) in the County. Funding includes a grant through the Public Works Board (PWB) <br />and another through the Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO). Additional <br />funding for broadband expansion is available through the National Telecommunications <br />and Information Administration (NTIA) Broadband Equity Access and Deployment <br />(BEAD) Program. Public Works has been working with the County's broadband <br />consultant for development of broadband expansion phases. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />Project funding to expand broadband service to rural portions of the county is available <br />through the Public Works Board, Washington State Broadband Office and the NTIA. <br />Funding has been secured through two sources and being sought through the third. <br />The project funded through PWB will expand broadband service to areas of Thorp and <br />Edgemont. Design and permitting is underway for this project area. Expansion of <br />