There’s 180 miles of fiber optic cable headed around the Mountain, backed by
$7.8 million in federal Recovery Act funds.

The money is going into the Clackamas Broadband Innovation Initiative and
will provide affordable, high-speed broadband to underserved rural areas in
the county, according to project director Dave Cummings.

“Target date for services in the Hoodland area is at least one year away,” said
Gary Schmidt of public and government affairs for the county. “But it is tough
to have a concrete date at this point.”

But Schmidt confirms that construction will get underway in February 2011.
“It will begin in Oregon City then head to Clackamas, Damascus, Sandy,
Colton, Molalla, Canby and back to Oregon City,” Schmidt told The Mountain
Times. “A second ring will begin in Milwaukie and head to Sandy, Welches and
Government Camp.”

The project, a 180-mile network of new fiber optic cable, will provide
broadband speeds to local school districts, community colleges, fire districts,
public utilities and public safety agencies.

At least 90 schools, two community colleges, 36 public safety entities, four
health care providers, eight city halls and 10 libraries will be connected.

New or improved high-speed internet access will be provided to as many as
97,000 households, 3,600 businesses and an additional 30 anchor institutions.
Higher capacity data connectivity will be available for online video training
between fire stations and police stations.

Also, greater information sharing will be available between the county and
local governments.

In addition to the Recovery Act funds, a non-federal funding match of
$3,344,649 will be provided by: 160 anchor sites for network costs
($2,320,000); and Clackamas County ($1,024,649) budgeted over three fiscal
years.