Port gets boost in funds for fiber

Chief Operating Officer Kara Riebold reported to Port of Whitman County commissioners Jan. 24 that the Community Economics Revitalization Board (CERB) has increased the Port’s loan and broadband grant.

The Department of Commerce CERB program can issue grants and/or loans for projects.

The Port last September had received a grant-loan from the CERB Rural Broadband Program for $1 million to fund fiberoptic networks at Garfield, Oakesdale, Palouse, Rosalia and Tekoa.

Originally, the port received a $750,000 loan with an interest rate of 2.5 percent and a $250,000 grant.

Riebold received a phone call in December from CERB that their board had voted to increase construction project limits and the recipients were being called to let them know they could qualify for an increase. The limits were being increased to $2 million.

The qualifications for the increase required a project to expect overruns or the recipient to add on to the original project. The Port of Whitman decided to add onto their “original fiber to the home” project by extending the fiber around the county out to three transmission sites. They still need state approval for their new sites, but they are expected to be into rural areas outside some of the towns in the eastern part of Whitman County.

The adjustments were well received by the CERB board who voted unanimously to change their previous offer. The new contract will be for a $1 million loan with the same interest rate and a $1 million grant.

“Anytime you can get money 50 percent for your taxpayers its a good thing,” said Commissioner Tom Kammerzell, referring to the CERB contract going from three-quarters loan to only half loan.

The Port budgets paying back loans from revenue made through its fiber income and land lease income.

The Port’s tax levy revenue is used strictly for capital improvements.

The Port is currently waiting for the paperwork for the revised contract. The fiber to the home project could easily take up to two years to complete.