Pierce County's Internet Initiative Faces Setbacks on Herron Island

Pierce County, Washington, pledged $7.15 million to enhance Internet access in rural areas, including Herron Island. However, the telecommunications company Astound has announced the cancellation of its plans to construct towers for high-speed Internet due to permitting delays. The project was initially set to utilize microwave technology to transmit signals from a mainland tower to Herron Island, aiming to provide service by the end of 2026. Kevin Stamey, Astound's vice president of operations, cited the complexity of the permitting process as a significant barrier, which ultimately jeopardized the project's eligibility for federal grant support.

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The overall project was part of a $12.1 million partnership funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which included $7.15 million from Pierce County and $4.95 million from Astound. The Herron Island segment was estimated to cost approximately $1.75 million. While the Herron Island portion is now scrapped, the Nisqually area segment of the project is proceeding as planned. The future of the federal funding allocated for Herron Island remains uncertain, as negotiations are ongoing regarding a contract amendment to remove this segment from the project.

The News Tribune

Residents of Herron Island have expressed disappointment over the cancellation. Kimberly Watts, the island manager for the Homeowners’ Association, noted that many residents were looking forward to affordable and reliable Internet service, especially given the island's current "spotty" connectivity. With a significant portion of the population being elderly and on fixed incomes, access to stable Internet is crucial for online healthcare and maintaining social connections. Watts emphasized that Internet access is now a utility akin to electricity and water.

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The permitting delays were attributed to the environmentally sensitive nature of the area where the towers were to be built. Burger, a spokesperson for Pierce County, explained that the project required extensive reviews and analyses that could not be completed within the ARPA deadlines. The county's permit records indicate that Astound's contractor, Redline Communications, had applied for necessary permits to construct the towers, but local residents raised concerns about the aesthetic impact and potential effects on wildlife.

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Astound is exploring alternative solutions, including subsea cables and other wireless networking options, as it reassesses the feasibility of providing Internet service to Herron Island. Stamey indicated that the company is collaborating with local stakeholders to evaluate operational, environmental, and financial scenarios that could facilitate the project moving forward.

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Pierce County officials have confirmed that they are working with Astound on a contract amendment to address the cancellation of the Herron Island project. “We will be prioritizing options that make the best use of the grant funding and provide the largest benefit to the county,” Burger stated.

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• “Astound expressed concerns this fall about completing the Herron Island portion of the project by the ARPA deadline,” — Jenny Burger, Pierce County Spokesperson

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• “And Internet is a utility like electricity and water that everybody should have access to in this day and age,” — Kimberly Watts, Island Manager, Homeowners’ Association of Herron Island

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• “Unfortunately, the careful, multi-level review process, test drilling, and analysis necessary for this portion of the project was determined not to be feasible within the ARPA deadline.” — Jenny Burger, Pierce County Spokesperson

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• “Astound is actively looking at the feasibility (of) other possibilities that include subsea cable and other forms of wireless networking,” — Kevin Stamey, Vice President of Operations, Astound

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