Enabling remote learning, working
Besides offering better service for residents, the new fiber network will be a welcome benefit for local anchor institutions.
Astound and its partners will also prioritize bringing fiber to fire houses, schools, libraries, medical clinics, and other key anchor institutions in the county. “This network will significantly enhance the level of connectivity options for schools and other local anchor institutions,” Sonne said.
Healthcare clinics offering telemedicine—especially those in geographically isolated zones—will operate with greater efficiency and reach. Since travel times to Port Angeles or Sequim can exceed an hour, a stable connection eliminates that barrier, allowing for residents to conduct remote telehealth sessions.
Libraries and schools will also be able to leverage the fiber network to support more digital services. Schools can also expand their online learning capabilities, providing students with uninterrupted remote access to educational resources.
“Our rural area does have several businesses and anchor institutions, such as the schools and healthcare institutions,” Gray said.
He added that the presence of Astound’s fiber broadband service will also make Clallam County a potentially attractive destination for remote workers who require broadband connectivity. “A lot of people are working remotely nowadays, so we see this being a benefit to our rural residents,” Gray said.
With this new fiber infrastructure in place, Sonne agreed it will provide those remote opportunities.
“Remote school and work might be risky now if you want to live in that area,” Sonne said. “Once we have the infrastructure in place, it becomes more and more feasible, so it’s a boost to a community.”
Having conducted similar projects in areas such as Tillamook, Oregon, and Pierce County, Washington, Astound has extensive experience serving remote rural areas.
Sonne said the common denominator in all these areas is a desire to get fiber-based broadband.
“What we’ve found when we build in remote areas like Clallam County, there’s a certain percentage of the residents that are starving for this level of broadband,” he said. They will subscribe as fast as they can, while others will take time to learn about what’s available and why it’s more robust and explore a change.”
Another effect is that it will make the area more attractive to existing and potential new businesses.
“This will do a lot for economic development,” Sonne said. “If the county is looking to expand economic development in this area, this takes away one of the major barriers to that by ensuring that you have top-of-the-line broadband infrastructure.”