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Astound Broadband Announces $22m Project With Clallam County, Washington
Astound Broadband Announces $22M Project with Clallam County, Washington
Clallam County, WA — May 14, 2025 — Clallam County and Astound, a recognized leader in internet, mobile, and TV services, today announced a partnership to bring high-speed fiber internet connectivity to a large unserved and underserved rural area of the county that generally extends along and parallel to the approximately 15-mile State Route 112 Highway corridor, beginning just west of Port Angeles. Once complete, the project will provide more than 1,500 homes with access to Astound’s fiber-to-the-home network, delivering symmetrical speeds of up to 5 gigabits per second.
Over the next year, Astound will build approximately 100 miles of state-of-the-art fiber-optic infrastructure, extending its existing fiber network and high-speed services to the community of Joyce, as well as other areas of unincorporated Clallam County. Construction is already underway, with several miles of underground fiber completed. The project features both aerial and underground construction, with active permitting processes continuing. Completion is scheduled for the end of 2026.
This $22.2 million partnership is backed by a combination of funding sources:
- $16 million from the Washington State Broadband Office via American Rescue Project Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
- $4.5 million from the Washington State Department of Commerce Public Works Board Broadband Program, including grants from the (ARPA) Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund
- $1.7 million from Clallam County
The Public Utility District No. 1 of Clallam County (PUD) is another key project participant. Clallam County and the PUD entered an Interlocal Agreement for the PUD and their partner, NOANet, to provide the county project grant management and professional services. The PUD also supports the county with project management and coordination with Astound. Utilizing the PUD’s existing infrastructure (e.g., power poles) to support the high-speed fiber construction has contributed to project cost savings.
Using Astound’s backbone fiber infrastructure is critical to the success of the project, as the effort would otherwise exceed the available grant funding. Astound has also committed to project-managing the build over the next year, leveraging internal resources to help reduce overall costs.
The new fiber infrastructure is focused on enhancing connectivity for homes in the unserved and underserved areas, supporting both personal and professional needs. Area small businesses and crucial ‘anchor institutions’, such as fire houses, schools, libraries, and clinics, will also have access to high-speed internet once this project is completed.
“This is a key step in our efforts to bridge the digital divide in rural Clallam County. Reliable, high-speed internet is essential for education, healthcare access, business growth, and staying connected—no matter where you live,” said Clallam County Commissioner Mike French. “Once completed, this project will provide modern, scalable broadband infrastructure to residents and businesses alike, ensuring our region is better equipped for today’s digital demands and tomorrow’s opportunities.”
This partnership is the latest milestone in Clallam County’s broader effort to expand broadband infrastructure. The County’s initiative focuses on investing in long-term connectivity solutions by partnering with internet service providers to improve quality of life, support education, and enhance economic opportunities across the region.
“Residents of rural Clallam County deserve access to the same levels of reliable high-speed connectivity that more urban areas have come to expect,” said Jared Sonne, Astound senior vice president and general manager, West Region. “With both County and State support, we are addressing this by extending Astound’s robust fiber network infrastructure to bring vital high-speed connectivity for the first time to previously underserved areas.”
Once construction is complete, Astound and Clallam County have an agreement for Astound to maintain and operate the fiber optic communications network. The county is in the process of carrying out a similar agreement with the PUD related to joint use facilities to be constructed under the project along the SR 112 corridor.
Astound has provided a website for ongoing updates and information about the network build at www.astound.com/clallam.
