The Pierce County in Washington is set to enhance its internet infrastructure, aiming to provide faster internet services to communities that currently lack adequate access. This project, which is expected to begin construction later this year, will primarily benefit residents and businesses in the north Key Peninsula area, who have been struggling with slow DSL or wireless internet options for years.
The county has partnered with Comcast to expand high-speed internet services to over 500 homes and businesses in the north Key Peninsula. This partnership is part of the county’s broader initiative to address service gaps identified in a countywide evaluation conducted in 2019.
Construction work is scheduled to commence from Monday to Thursday, between 6:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The project is expected to continue until 2025, with some Key Peninsula homes and businesses potentially gaining access to Comcast services as early as later this year. The construction will take place between 144th Street Northwest and Hall Road Northwest, and between 188th Avenue Northwest and Wright Bliss Road Northwest.
Once the infrastructure is in place, Comcast will share marketing materials with the affected homes and businesses, including door-to-door sales agents and a toll-free number for ordering services. In addition to broadband services, Comcast will also offer TV service, home security systems, home phone, and mobile services.
Many residents in the area have expressed frustration with their current internet service providers, such as Diane Higgins, the owner of Serenity Cottage, who has experienced numerous internet connectivity problems, affecting her lodgers who tried to work from the cottage. Greg Bilderback, a resident in the same area, has been paying for high-speed internet from CenturyLink but has been unable to stream video or play Xbox games due to slow connections.
Comcast participated in Pierce County’s competitive Request for Proposal process earlier this year, and part of the $5 million project will be funded by federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money, with $3.75 million allocated for the purpose by the Pierce County Council in its 2024-2025 biennial budget. This initiative aligns with the state’s broader goal of expanding internet access across Washington state.
