Pierce County rural areas to see improved internet through $12M project

(The Center Square) – Pierce County has announced a public-private partnership that will use more than $7 million in federal funds to boost internet access in the region’s most rural areas.

The public-private partnership totals $12.1 million, with Pierce County dedicating $7.15 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to the project. Astound Broadband will spend the remaining $4.95 million as part of the partnership.

According to the county, over 3,200 homes will have access to fiber-to-the-home networks, which can boost internet speeds to upwards of five gigabits per second.

In the next few months, Astound Broadband will build approximately 113 miles of fiber optic infrastructure across rural areas across Pierce County, including Herron Island, Key Peninsula, and the Nisqually region.

There will be a mix of aerial and underground fiber construction, as well as a unique microwave process transmitting connectivity from the Key Peninsula ferry terminal to nearby Herron Island.

According to the county, project completion is required by the end of 2026.

“High-speed internet has become a critical infrastructure, which we want all Pierce County residents to be able to access for their business, education and personal pursuits,” Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier said in a news release .

Pierce County has made it a priority to expand broadband infrastructure to areas it deems underserved. The partnership is the latest in Pierce County’s initiative to do so.

The Pierce County 2024-2025 budget allocates $12.77 million in ARPA money available to help with bridging broadband gaps across the county.

The infrastructure that will be under construction is focused on enhancing connectivity for residences and small businesses to help meet their personal and professional needs.

“Residents of rural Pierce County deserve access to the same levels of reliable high-speed connectivity that more urban areas have come to expect,” Astound Broadband Senior Vice President Jared Sonne said. “With county and federal involvement, this project embodies what a true public-private partnership should be, with the ultimate outcome being improved quality of life for area residents.”