East PDX Today

Clackamas County - OR issued the following announcement on Mar. 17. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us clearly that the Internet is no longer a luxury. Instead, Internet access has become a basic necessity. Whether it’s for school, an online medical appointment, work, banking, or staying in touch with loved ones, access to high-speed Internet has become essential in the modern world.

Recognizing the importance of broadband for all, the Board of Commissioners made the availability of affordable, high-speed Internet service to all county homes and businesses a county strategic goal. In July, Clackamas County Commissioners allocated up to $10.1 million of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds the county received towards providing high-speed Internet access to additional residents in rural or underserved parts of the county. 

Clackamas County’s Clackamas Broadband eXchange (CBX) has been working to make high-speed Internet service for all a reality for over a decade. The new available funds will go to expanding the infrastructure. 

Areas in the first phase of construction are:

• Lusted Road, Sandy 
• Colorado Road & Gunderson, Sandy 
• Government Camp 
• Lolo Pass Road, Welches

The CBX network is a fiber optic cable infrastructure system that has very high bandwidth capacity. CBX is purchasing the equipment to make it an “open access” network and then partner with existing Internet Service Providers (ISP) to deliver the Internet to homes and businesses. The customer will be able to choose who they want as their service provider from the partnering ISPs. 

Original source can be found here.