Pend Oreille PUD gets $27 million for broadband projects

The Pend Oreille Public Utility District is the recipient of $27 million in federal stimulus money.

Announced today by Wash. Sen. Patty Murray, the money will be used to create last-mile fiber to businesses and residents in the service area of the Pend Oreille PUD, which is based in Newport.

The plan is to provide fiber services and high-speed broadnband to as many as 3,200 homes, 360 businesses and 24 community groups and institutions, including schools.

This is the third in a string of broadband grants announced for regional recipients. The most recent announcement included a grant to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.

A total of $87 million has been set aside for federal broadband stimulus projects.

According to information sent out by a press release on Monday, the PUD Broadband Network has these three goals:

* Stimulate economic development and growth in this economically distressed, low-density area of Washington State by improving access to high capacity, affordable broadband services;

* Enhance broadband capabilities for health care facilities, higher education institutions, and government offices;

* Provide wholesale service speeds from 10 Mbps up to 1 Gbps to other carriers and service providers, and retail speeds of 1 Mbps to 1 Gbps to households, businesses, and critical community facilities.