Broadband Advisory Committee
In 2022, the Chiloquin city council approved the creation of a broadband advisory committee. Their mission was crystal clear: to set goals and benchmarks, survey the existing infrastructure, and uncover potential grants and funding sources. All of this was in pursuit of a grand plan to deliver top-notch, high-speed broadband services to every resident in Chiloquin.
Fast forward to the close of 2022, and this committee underwent a transformation, finding a new home under the South Central Oregon Economic Development District (SCOEDD). Now, their mission has expanded to boost broadband Internet initiatives and endeavors not only in Chiloquin but also across both Klamath and Lake counties.
Broadband Initiatives
SCOEDD along with Lake County and Klamath County, teamed up with Stone Ventures located right here in Chiloquin, and together they're conducting feasibility studies and crafting grant applications with the goal of securing funding to bring broadband solutions to Lake County, Klamath County, Chiloquin, Christmas Valley, and the town of Lakeview.
Oregon Broadband Office
In 2022, the Oregon Broadband Office (OBO) focused their efforts to develop grant programs which will promote, support and facilitate the future construction and deployment of high-speed internet in Oregon. The OBO will help cities across Oregon by opening several grant programs for both planning and development phases through the Broadband Equity, Access & Deployment Program (BEAD) and Digital Equity (DE) programs.
The BEAD Program
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) BEAD Program, provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs in all 50 states. For communities across Oregon, the Oregon Broadband Office will manage and distribute BEAD funds.
Update November 2023 - Oregon Digital Equity Plan draft open for public comment
The OBO released the draft State of Oregon Digital Equity Plan outlining how Oregon will use federal funds to provide reliable, affordable, high-speed internet, computing devices, and digital skills training to people who need it most. OBO developed the draft Digital Equity Plan after a robust public engagement and planning process to capture the diverse voices and lived experiences of all people and to identify the needs and barriers to digital equity.
The draft State of Oregon Digital Equity Plan is now open for a 45-day public comment period, from Wednesday, November 1, 2023, until 5:00 p.m. PST on December 16, 2023. All Oregonians are invited to submit comments via the public comment portal https://biznews.oregon.gov/acton/fs/blocks/showLandingPage/a/14786/p/p-00ed/t/page/fm/0 as soon as possible.
Update June 2023 - Hunter Communications Fiber Optical Broadband Network for Chiloquin
In early 2023, Hunter Communications started construction in and around Chiloquin of their fiber optical broadband network. This new fiber optical network provides Chiloquin residents with faster download and upload speeds at competitive pricing, while providing a scalable network that can meet the demands of the future. Over the next several years, Hunter Communications will continue to expand its fiber optical broadband network across other areas surrounding the City of Chiloquin.
Chiloquin is the first of 14 communities in Oregon and Northern California where Hunter is using funding secured from the Federal Communications Commission’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) to help provide high-speed broadband Internet connectivity to rural customers.
Hunter also participates in the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. This benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. To apply for the ACP program, go to www.affordableconnectivity.gov.