The Port has been awarded $13.9 million in federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funding, along with $4.6 million in state matching funds, to expand broadband access in Whatcom County. The Port will partner with Astound Broadband to construct last-mile connections serving nearly 2,000 broadband-serviceable locations.
The project is part of $32.8 million in BEAD awards for Whatcom County, expected to serve nearly 5,700 new locations. Port staff will present additional project information and request Commission authorization to accept the grant funding by September.