Emergency Broadband Loan Program

Emergency Broadband Loan Program is sponsored by Washington State Public Works Board (PWB). This program provides loans to support broadband infrastructure projects.

PWB Broadband Financing – Washington State Department of Commerce Shared Standards Initiative 简体中文 ( Chinese (Simplified) ) 繁體中文 ( Chinese (Traditional) ) Tiếng Việt ( Vietnamese ) The Public Works Board (Board) Broadband program is authorized by state statute ( RCW 43. 155. 160 ).

Its purpose is to loan and grant funding to promote the expansion of broadband access to unserved populations in rural and urban communities across the state.

Eligible applicants for state funding Other Special Purpose Districts Quasi-Municipal Corporation Limited liability corporations organized for the purpose of expanding broadband access Incorporated businesses or partnerships To ensure that a grant or loan to a private entity primarily serves the public interest and benefits the public, there must be a guarantee that the asset or infrastructure to be developed will be maintained for public use for a period of at least fifteen years.

Funding limits for state funding $2 million per project loan/grant award limit with a 50% match. Projects in financially distressed areas may receive up to 90% of the total project cost for a total not to exceed $5 million.

2026 Objections Received (PDF) PWB Broadband Scoring Criteria 2026 (PDF) 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity (PDF) 2026 Broadband Pre-application Materials 2026 Pre-application Locations Interactive Map 2026 Broadband Cycle Objection FAQs (PDF) 2026 Broadband Cycle Objection Intake Form (PDF) Internet Service Provider Notification Template Washington Broadband Funding Programs Emergency Broadband Loan Program The Emergency Broadband Loan Program focuses on activities that repair, replace, rehabilitate, improve and/or reconstruct critical broadband infrastructure that have been made necessary by a natural disaster or damaged by unforeseen events.

Priority is given for projects that replace existing infrastructure of the provider whose facilities were damaged by the unforeseen event, and the Board does not provide funding to a new provider proposing to replace existing infrastructure impacted by the emergency. Applications are accepted continuously until loan funds are expended. Apply for Emergency Broadband loan program on ZoomGrants .

The Public Works Board Broadband Hardship Map shows the hardship status of counties. Distressed counties are counties that have rural or Tribal status. Severely distressed status is determined for rural counties with: (a) an unemployment rate 20% above the state average for the previous three years and (b) a median household income less than 75% of the state median for the previous three years.

Open interactive hardship map in new window 2021 Federally Funded Construction Grants and Loans 2020 Construction Grants and Loans 2019 Planning-Feasibility Study Grants PWB Broadband Fact Sheets State Broadband Resources and Funding PWB and CERB: Partners in Broadband Federal funding handbook and guidance 2022 PWB Federal Coronavirus Capital Projects Broadband Construction Handbook US Treasury Guidance for the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund Broadband Loan and Grant Handbook and forms Broadband Loan and Grant Program Handbook 2020 Construction Cost Share Submittal Forms 4-B State Certified Compliance of Payroll 6-B GEO 05-05 Historical and Cultural Resources Review Checklist 6-C Inadvertent Discovery Language 7-B Notification of Contract Award and Notice to Proceed 8-A Construction Project Completion Report PWB Broadband Program 2 Year Payment Deferral PWB Broadband Program Contract Extension Request