Council to consider building broadband network
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
COLLEGE PLACE – The College Place City Council will consider pursuing grant funds for the construction of a publicly-owned dark fiber broadband network at its meeting tonight (Tuesday) at 7.
According to City Administrator Mike Rizzitiello, the Walla Walla Valley has a limited number of internet providers with limited speeds. The concept is to construct a publicly owned dark fiber backbone throughout the community to increase internet speed, availability and the number of internet providers.
The grant program being framed at the federal level offers 80 percent investment with 20 percent local match in regular areas and 90 percent investment with 10 percent local match in areas with poverty or that demonstrate low-income. Initial estimates to build out such a system is between $3.5 to $4 million. With a 10 percent local match that would come out to $400,000. The College Place School District, Port of Walla Walla, Walla Walla County and Walla Walla University have expressed interest in assisting with the local match. The city of Walla Walla and Walla Walla County is also looking at joining the initiative.
The idea is for a consortium led by the Port of Walla Walla and consisting of Walla Walla County, both cities, school districts and other key parties to pursue grant sources.
Any dark fiber networks constructed would be publicly owned, managed by Petrichor, and leased to the private sector.
The council will also consider a motion authorizing staff, on behalf of Mayor Norma Hernandez, to accept a $500,000 grant from the Sherwood Trust for the Lions Park Improvement Project. In March, city staff applied for a Sherwood Trust Core Grant requesting $500,000. The board of directors of the Sherwood Trust selected the Lions Park Splash Pad and Inclusive Playground project as the sole recipient of its 2021 Core Grant.
Additionally, the city has been awarded three grants from the Washington State Recreation Conservation Office of more than $1.3 million towards Lions Park improvements. The concept includes walking paths with exercise equipment, inclusive playground, splash pad, multi-us baseball and soccer fields, restrooms, pond dredging, fishing dock, park sign, picnic shelter, and lighting. The project cost estimate for the Lions Park Improvement Project is more than $3.2 million.
The meeting is streamed on the city’s YouTube channel. It is also available on Zoom. The ID number is 994 4843 5042.
