HomeMy WebLinkAbout042522cabs01 JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
Mark McCauley, County Administrator
FROM: Julie Shannon,Executive Secretary II
DATE: April 25,2022
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION re: LETTER OF SUPPORT re:
Jefferson County PUD is applying for state funding to expand gigabit fiber connections to
businesses in Port Townsend extending from Fort Worden to Glen Cove
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Jefferson County PUD is applying for state funding to expand gigabit fiber connections to businesses in Port
Townsend extending from Fort Worden to Glen Cove. (see project area map) The funding would allow the
PUD to offer symmetrical gig fiber service (l gbps up and down) starting at a cost of$100 per month.*
Symmetrical gig service from the PUD would offer the fastest speeds in the county day and night. No more
buffering from midday network congestion, and no more teleconferencing lags. In order to qualify for the
loan, the PUD needs to demonstrate substantive interest from local businesses in the project area.
ANALYSIS:
In applying for this very low interest state loan to build fiber to businesses in the PT area,the PUD needs to
determine interest and strengthen the case for their application. To date they've posted a survey on their
website and emailed it directly to around 170 businesses. The PUD has also run ads on social media and in
the paper. While responses are steadily trickling in, the more response they get, the better chances they have
of receiving the funding. The PUD is also offering letters of support if Supporters are willing.
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider sending a signed letter of support via email to broadband@jeffpud.org. If the PUD is successful in
its applications, connections could begin as early as late 2022.
REVIEWED BY:
Mark McCaule f ounty Administrator Date
p�C COMivii Board of County Commissioners
y4ON
coG �,� 1820 Jefferson Street
o az ti PO Box 1220
`,, Port Townsend, WA 98368
Kate Dean,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 GregBrotherton,District 3
.1SFIING'S
Apr 25, 2022
Sheila Richardson,
Public Works Board Broadband Program Manager
Olympia,WA
RE: Support for JPUD's PT Business Fiber Project
Dear Sheila,
On behalf of Jefferson County, we am writing to support Public Utility District No.1 of Jefferson County(JPUD)'s
application for low interest loan funding to build symmetrical gigabit fiber service to businesses in the Port Townsend
(PT)area.
Symmetrical gigabit internet over a fiber connection from JPUD would offer our local businesses the fastest, most
reliable and affordable service available in the county. By delivering one gigbit per second uploads as well as downloads,
service over JPUD fiber would eliminate the frequent network congestion and teleconferencing lags that currently
frustrate most area businesses and hinder many. Reliable affordable and publicly owned fiber internet from JPUD would
offer new and enhanced economic opportunities to existing businesses,facilitate the startup of new businesses, and
help attract other businesses to relocate to the PT area.
JPUD has led the county in expanding access to broadband. First in 2014 by utilizing federal grant funding to build a 25-
mile fiber optic network to local anchor institutions; then by partnering with the City, Port, and County to expand
wholesale fiber connections downtown; and most recently by securing$23M in state and federal funds to begin building
fiber directly to thousands of rural residents lacking access to broadband,or in some cases, any internet at all.
Jefferson County strongly supports JPUD's application for low interest loan funding to build symmetrical gigabit fiber
connections to businesses in the Port Townsend area.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Board of County Commissioners
Kate Dean, Chair Heidi Eisenhour Greg Brotherton
District 1 District 2 District 3
Phone (360) 385-9100 Fax (360) 385-9382 jeffhocc@co.jefferson.wa.us