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Latest News:

11/5/09:
WA-RBC Video Testimonies now online

10/29/09:
Governor Christine Gregoire officially endorses the WA-RBC!

10/23/09:
Congressman Rick Larsen officially endorses the WA-RBC!
The WARBC is officially endorsed by a growing list of community, political and business leaders including:

Christine Gregoire, WA Governor
Patty Murray, WA Senator
Rick Larsen, Congressman
Pete Kremen, Whatcom County Executive
Kenyon S. Chan, Chancellor UW Bothell
Scott L. Walker, Commission President, Port of Bellingham
Bill Elfo, Whatcom County Sheriff
Carl Symons, Director, NW Indian College
Nancy Jordan,  Executive Director, NW Economic Council
Richard Gantman, Superintendant, Mount Baker School District
and most importantly, citizens throughout NW WA

BACKGROUND: The WA-RBC project is an extremely high bandwidth initiative which delivers 10 Gb/s service to community anchor points (schools, tribal centers, libraries, and chambers of commerce) throughout Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom counties. The WA-RBC project is a partnership between the Tulalip Tribes of Washington and Cascadeo Corporation. This proposal leverages significant investments already made by the Tulalip Tribes in a data center and fiber optic infrastructure that can extend to other tribes and rural communities.

FUNDING: We are requesting 12.4 million dollars to complete Phase 1 of this project which interconnects 14 community access points (CAPs) providing access to critical services to over 50,000 households plus businesses, schools and governments. This includes access between tribes and communities – with ease of expansion throughout the State of Washington. The primary intent of this project is to serve as a not-for-profit, neutral, backbone bringing tremendous provider choice to the unserved and underserved citizens within the State of Washington. The WA-RBC is sustainable through cooperative membership funds.
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FUNDING: We are requesting 12.4 million dollars to complete Phase 1 of this project which interconnects 14 community access points (CAPs) providing access to critical services to over 50,000 households plus businesses, schools and governments. This includes access between tribes and communities – with ease of expansion throughout the State of Washington. The primary intent of this project is to serve as a not-for-profit, neutral, backbone bringing tremendous provider choice to the unserved and underserved citizens within the State of Washington. The WA-RBC is sustainable through cooperative membership funds.

IMMEDIATE IMPACT: The WA-RBC proposal is the only effort that is relying solely on securing BIP (Broadband Initiative Program) funding within the State of Washington. Also, this proposal is one of only 20+ proposals submitted by tribes of the 2200 proposals submitted nationally for this round of funding. Benefits include:

  • Education
The WA-RBC will provide tele-learning provided by universities, community colleges and the Tulalip Tribes of Washington as a fundamental service to all members of the Cooperative. This includes adult basic and continuing education, workforce development programs, and access to library information. This is also critical for success K-12 schools.

  • Economic Development
The WA-RBC provides access and support to small and developing businesses in rural communities. This allows rural communities to participate in – and compete within the global business environment. Currently, rural businesses are severely disadvantaged due to lack of broadband or slow dial-up connectivity.

  • Tele-Medicine
Health care professionals can provide immediate assessment and guidance to first rural community responders via video conference and telepresence. Also, access to electronic health records for Native American and partner communities can be realized.

  • Public Safety
The WA-RBC will interconnect police and fire departments in the three counties of NW Washington. It will also allow cell phone carriers to finally provide service in areas previously without which will enable much quicker response to incidents.

Please provide your support by informing our State Representatives of the positive impact that this innovative proposal will have to rural communities throughout Washington State – AND how it may serve as a model for rural broadband throughout the country.

If your community is interested in being connected to the WA-RBC network, please contact us.