SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane County announced the deployment of wireless towers to bring internet to portions of the county without access on Friday.
As electricity access was implemented across Spokane in the late 1800s into the early 20th century, access to the technology became an indicator of financial mobility. Rural farmers were less likely to achieve ascendance to the middle class if they did not have access to electricity.
In the early 20th century, access to the internet has created a similar class divide. Rural Americans and Indigenous Americans living on tribal land have lower rates of internet access than the national average.
According to a 2022 Bloomberg Government report, about 18% of indigenous people lack internet access, compared to just 4% of people in non-tribal areas. A 2018 US Census Bureau report found that rural counties trail the national average of internet access by 13 points.
The new Spokane County program has brought digital access to 100 households across Spokane County in the Cheney area by using semi-fixed cell towers that can be towed. Broadlinc, a public broadband company owned by the Spokane Regional Broadband Development Authority, hopes to secure additional funding to bring access to more homes.
“We are excited to build on our momentum, by applying for upcoming federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment funding,” Broadlinc Executive Director Ariane Schmidt said.
The initial semi-fixed cell towers were funded through a $4.6 million Washington State Broadband Office grant. Aaron Wheeler, an information technology expert who specializes in rural and tribal broadband access, was appointed to lead the office in February.
The economic impact of bringing additional digital access to Spokane County homes will not be clear until data on the implementation is collected by economists or public officials.
