The Broadband Equity, Access, & Deployment (BEAD) program was created by the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. The BEAD program makes funding available to jurisdictions across the United States to deploy and upgrade broadband networks and facilities in un- and underserved regions.
Washington State will be managing $1.2 billion in federal funding across the state to deploy broadband fiber in un/underserved areas.
The Washington State Department of Commerce released the BEAD notice of funding opportunity on Nov. 12, 2024. Applications were due by Jan. 31, 2025. Interested parties can find more information on the Washington State Broadband Office's website.
In May of 2023, Clark County participated in a statewide effort to survey communities about high-speed internet access. Data from this survey was combined and analyzed to verify the accuracy of the FCC’s broadband availability maps and identify how high-speed internet access in Clark County can be improved.