PUD 3's Broadband Connection to NoaNet and the Benefits of Open Access

More than 20 years ago, member Public Utility Districts (PUDs) had the foresight to realize broadband as a utility would impact local economies in ways we could not yet imagine. Through that vision, they formed a statewide not-for-profit broadband network called NoaNet (short for Northwest Open Access Network) to enhance telecommunications access throughout Washington State. PUD 3 was one of those founding members and NoaNet now has over 3,300 miles of fiber that touches every county in Washington State including the contract for all the 9-1-1 services in the state. There are currently 10 member utilities on NoaNet’s board of directors, each owning a percentage share of the organization. NoaNet’s network is the PUD’s pathway to the world wide web.

The benefit of publicly owned broadband infrastructure has been increasingly apparent in cost savings to consumers, better quality service and speeds, and the ability and desire to reach unserved and underserved areas. When a network is open access, it adds the element of competition, which is another layer of protection for the consumer. NoaNet’s CEO provides a great explanation of the benefits of an open access network in this article: read it here.