High-speed internet is coming to part of rural Pierce County. Here’s the $5 million plan

High-speed internet is coming to the Key Peninsula.

Pierce County announced in a news release Monday that they’re partnering with Comcast.

The agreement: “will expand the availability of high-speed internet services on the Key Peninsula,” the release said.

The internet expansion will bring a “fast and reliable fiber-rich network and a full suite of services to over 526 Key Peninsula homes and businesses,” according to the release.

The project is estimated to cost around $5 million. Pierce County is contributing $3.75 million from the American Rescue Plan Act.

“In July 2021 Pierce County committed $15 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money to help with efforts to bridge the broadband gaps across the county,” Erin Babbo, communications manager for Pierce County, told the Gateway Tuesday. “All ARPA funds must be spent by 2026 and meet grantor requirements.”

The rest of the cost for the Key Peninsula project will be covered by Comcast, Babbo said. Comcast will also build the infrastructure.

“Now, more than ever, it is crucial that people have access to high-speed Internet,” Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier said in the release. “Whether for work, school or entertainment, we want to help all county residents enjoy the benefits of this important infrastructure.”

Pierce County and Comcast expect construction to begin around the end of this summer after they finalize the design and begin the permitting process, Babbo said.

They estimate construction to be complete by the end of 2024, Babbo said.

“Once permits are obtained and construction has begun in the public rights of way, Comcast will create an online resource for residents seeking information about the network build in their neighborhood, including answers to frequently asked questions and product and service details,” the news release said.

Plans for this project began in November 2021, when Pierce County began seeking potential partners to expand broadband internet access in areas of Pierce County identified as unserved or underserved, Babbo said.

“Comcast was one of the respondents selected for their proposal to serve addresses in the North Key Peninsula Broadband Development District,” Babbo said.

Large parts of the Key Peninsula do not have access to internet service that meets a minimum speed of 25 mbps download/3 mbps upload, Babbo told the Gateway.

“Pierce County recognizes the public benefit that broadband service can contribute to the economic development and quality of life for local communities and businesses within underserved and unserved areas,” Babbo said. “All our communities need to have access to this essential utility.”

How much will it cost residents?

Once the expanded network has been activated on the Key Peninsula, prices will vary per plan.

Comcast residential internet services range from $19.99 to $80 a month, according to their website, and business internet services range from $49.99 to $349.99 a month.

Residents will be able to sign up for the company’s Internet Essentials program, which provides low-cost, high-speed broadband for income-constrained households, according to Babbo.

The Interest Essentials program offers free internet for qualifying residents through an application process.

“Comcast has connected more than 21,000 households in Pierce County to high-speed Internet at home, many for the first time, through the Internet Essentials program,” Babbo said.

Others may qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program, Babbo said, which gives qualifying households a $30 monthly credit toward internet and mobile services.