During a meeting of the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee (PRCAC) on April 17, Jared Oberhaus, an at-large member, provided an update on the broadband infrastructure project currently underway through Whatcom County Public Utility District No. 1 (PUD).
The project, originally announced in May 2023, is backed by a $3.15 million grant from the Washington State Broadband Office, funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act, and supplemented with $350,000 from Whatcom County.
According to Oberhaus, the initiative is making steady progress, though not without setbacks. A recent estimate for “make-ready” work, including preparing utility poles for new equipment, came in at approximately $1.1 million, significantly higher than expected. This includes the cost of removing old, unused cables. Discussions are ongoing about whether outsourcing the cable removal would help or hinder the timeline.
Despite the challenges, permitting is largely in place. Right-of-way clearance from Whatcom County has been completed, tribal consultation is underway, and the PUD is preparing its pole attachment application for Puget Sound Energy (PSE). The current schedule targets construction beginning in July 2025.
Whidbey Telecom remains the sole company interested in leasing the new fiber infrastructure. While they initially preferred underground installation due to lower maintenance costs, local archaeological constraints – particularly in areas like Maple Beach – have necessitated overhead installation in some zones. The PUD recently secured federal approval to shift part of the funding to allow overhead installation; Whidbey Telecom will now need to undergo a similar permitting process.
Individual pole evaluations by PSE are ongoing to determine structural integrity and load capacty before new equipment can be added.
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