Laserfiche WebLink
NmLlr if -IF-- <br />KITFIT (M I I <br />June 8. 2()26 <br />Kittitas County, Washington <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />District One <br />Cory Wright <br />The Honorable Maria Cantwell <br />United States Senate <br />511 Hart Senate Office Building <br />Washington, DC 205 10 <br />District Two <br />Laura Osiadacz <br />RE,: Broadband Expansion and Impact of BNSF <br />Dear Senator Cantwell, <br />District Three <br />Brett Wachsmith <br />On behalf of Kittitas County, Nve write to you regarding significant delays and excessive costs <br />associated with broadband infrastructure permits required from BNSF Railway for critical rural <br />broadband expansion projects in Kittitas County. These delays now threaten our ability to complete <br />grant -funded broadband deployments before funding deadlines expire. <br />Kittitas County has been awarded broadband I'nfrast <br />programs, with grant funding expiring October 2026 <br />1. The Thorp and Edgemont broadband <br />ructure grants through two Washington State <br />projects are funded through AFPA/SLFRF grants <br />administered by the Washington State Public Works Board. <br />2. An extension of the Edgemont project]"s funded through ARPA/SLFRF grants administered <br />by the Washington State Broadband Office,, <br />Kittitas County has contracted with Lightcurve to design, build, and operate these broadband <br />networks. However, Lighticurve has encountered substantial obstacles obtaining the necessary <br />BNSF right-of-way permits needed to complete portions of the PJorect. <br />In the 'Thorp project area, Lighticurve <br />information and reasonable J*Usti*fica <br />has spent more than a year attempting to obtain clear <br />tion regarding a verbally requested permit cost of <br />approximately $450,000 from BNSF. The work in question involves placing additional fiber strands <br />into an existing conduit already located within BNSF right-of-way, spanning approximately 1,300 <br />feet,. <br />During discuss -ions, Lightcurve was initially told the cost reflected previously unbilled <br />infrastructure use within the BNSF corridor. That explanation was later withdrawn and replaced <br />with a statement that the charge was solely for adding additional fiber strands to the existing <br />conduit. Despite repeated requests, BNSF has not provided sufficient written documentation or cost <br />justification to support the proposed amount. <br />Kittitas County Courthouse <br />205 <br />West <br />5ih Avenue, STE 108 <br />Ellensburg, WA 98926 <br />(509) <br />962-7508 <br />-FAX (509) 962-7679 <br />