PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County, through its economic development arm Team Jefferson, has formed the Jefferson County Broadband Coalition in an attempt to secure a $3.2 million grant to bring the county faster Internet connections.
The coalition is made up of more than 20 government and business entities, including the county, Jefferson County Public Utility District, the city of Port Townsend, Port of Port Townsend, Brinnon, Quilcene, Chimacum and Port Townsend school districts, the county and city libraries, emergency services, Fort Worden State Park, Jefferson Healthcare hospital and the county courts.
The goal is to apply for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grant, stimulus dollars to improve Internet technology in rural areas.
The coalition is moving toward providing the county with fiber and wireless infrastructure to reach that goal.
Jefferson County is one of 12 regional governments going through Northwest Open Access Network, or NOAnet, and the state Department of Information Services, to qualify for the economic stimulus grant dollars.
“It may be possible to work of JeffCom towers,” said County Administrator Philip Morley.
Morley told the Jefferson County commissioners. Jeff Com is the system used for emergency services communications countywide.
The commissioners agreed Monday to send off a letter to the state Department of Commerce, stating the county is “an enthusiastic and committed part of the broadband project.”
The project’s first phase, as proposed, would bring broadband technology infrastructure to community services, such as libraries, colleges, cultural centers, key medical centers and government clinics.
The second phase would bring the broadband Internet connectivity to commercial and residential users.
Of the $3.2 million in grant funding, the county would be expected to contribute a 30 percent match in cash and in-kind services.
Morley said after meeting with key anchor institutions, he believes about $250,000 in cash and $500,000 in in-kind contributions are feasible.
Morley said before the end of the month, the coalition must receive letters of intent from potential partners.
Companies such as Intellicheck Mobilisa, a wireless-technology firm based in Port Townsend, would bene fit from the infrastructure improvement program.
“The broadband capability opens a lot of doors for our first responders as well,” Morley said.
Tom Thiersch, who is representing Port Townsend School District on the coalition, said broadband would allow all Jefferson County school districts to offer online education courses with students from any of the districts.
Thiersch said as it is now, Port Townsend School District can only test 57 students at a time for new state tests.
“That is obviously not enough,” he said.
Jefferson County PUD commissioners will discuss the NOAnet proposal when they meet at 5 p.m. today in their conference room at the PUD offices, 230 Chimacum Road, Port Hadlock.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
