In Washington State’s First BEAD Round, 77% of Locations Receive Bids

Feb. 14, 2025 – The first round of applications for Washington State’s $1.2 billion slice of federal broadband funding yielded more bids for 77 percent of the state’s eligible locations. The window closed Jan. 31, 2025.

The state said Thursday more than 300 applications came in from ISP, tribes, counties, and public utility districts, with nearly half the eligible locations receiving multiple bids. There are about 214,000 homes and businesses deemed to lack adequate broadband in the state.

“The incredible interest in this round of funding makes it clear that people all over Washington want access to fast and reliable internet,” Washington State Department of Commerce Director Joe Nguyen said in a statement. Nguyen, a former state senator, was appointed to the job last month.