PORT TOWNSEND– The installation of broadband infrastructure in Jefferson County to make high-speed Internet more accessible to all residents is several years away, but discussions are beginning on how the new system will be implemented.
When broadband is installed in East Jefferson County, it will carry high-speed video that will aid distance learning and business presentations, increasing the ability of local businesses to sell their products across the Internet and is expected to bring the area up to technological parity with many large cities.
It could also correct a historical miscue, according to Jefferson County Public Utility District Commissioner Barney Burke.
“The railroad didn’t come here in 1889, and the whole town was left behind,” he said.
“This is the infrastructure of the future, and if someone wants to locate a business in Brinnon or Quilcene or anywhere else in the county, this opportunity should be available to them at an affordable price.”
Broadband caught the imagination of the business, education and health care community in August, with the announcement of a $3.2 million federal grant that will be used to build the fiber-optic backbone that will bring high-speed Internet to East Jefferson County.
The Northwest Open Access Network, or NoaNet, is committed to building that backbone, installing more than 30 broadband sites at “anchor institutions” including schools, hospitals and libraries.
Once connected to these locations, private sector service providers can hook into the network and provide broadband access to homes and businesses.
The public utility district board met last week to hear a report from NoaNet representative Mike Henson to determine how the system will be administered.
Aside from connecting the anchor institutions, NoaNet has committed to the system’s support and operation for five years, which includes monitoring and repairing the connection from its Spokane data center.
During this period NoaNet would collect usage fees from the anchor institutions at a rate of about $470 for each T1 line which can represent a cost savings from what they are now paying for high speed access, Henson said.
NoaNet isn’t looking to make any money during this initial period, instead collecting enough user fees to operate the system according to Henson.
The PUD, he said, fits in for the administration of “the last mile,” providing services from the anchor institutions to homes and businesses.
Burke said it would be a natural step for the PUD to run the entire system after the initial five-year period “because we are a utility and will be supplying electricity for the entire area by then.”
Burke said it was important for the PUD commissioners to see a business plan for the broadband system, to determine how much it will cost to maintain and what it can expect from consumers.
Pricing is uncertain, as monthly costs for Internet access have changed considerably in recent years.
Henson estimated that it could cost approximately what it does today, from $40 to $100 a month.
The service would be better, and could easily accommodate the increased demand for video and collaborative applications.
“We need to see the business plan so we know that everything is covered because the PUD is a utility and it’s important that broadband be self-sufficient,” Burke said.
“We spent the better part of the year studying and negotiating the power acquisition [from Puget Sound Energy], and this will be the same thing.
“We want to know how much it takes to purchase it along with the capital requirements and the operating requirements.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.