Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Here, you can find answers to the most commonly asked questions.
If you cannot find the answer to your question, please contact us!
General Questions
Answer: Broadband internet (FCC defined as 25mbps download/3mbps upload) is critical for today's digital economy, educational resources, public safety, and more. The state of Washington State Broadband Office has set the goal for every home and business in the state to have access to at least 150/150mbps broadband service by the year 2028.
Broadband deployment is increasingly considered an essential infrastructure. In today's connected world, it is extremely difficult to fully engage in learning, working, or accessing healthcare without the availability of high-speed internet services. 100 years ago, the major infrastructure push was to get electricity to all Americans. Today, it's high-speed internet.
Answer: The primary technologies utilized for the delivery of high-speed internet service are: wireline (fiber optic, copper, cable), land-based wireless (microwave, 5G), and satellite.
Wireline: Fiber-optic broadband infrastructure is considered the "gold standard" of these options because it can support unlimited bandwidth use and has minimal signal degradation over long distances. Copper wire loses about 94% of its bandwidth capacity over 100 meters, whereas fiber-optic line only loses about 3% over the same distance. While wireline generally provides the most reliable service, it is also more expensive to deploy.
Wireless: Wireless is a good solution when wireline infrastructure is cost-prohibitive due to difficult geography, which would be very expensive to get a wireline solution to, or in rural areas with low building density. However, wireless infrastructure can be impacted by weather, trees, and other environmental factors.
Satellite: Satellite technologies, including traditional and low-Earth orbit, are useful resources for remote locations where wireline and wireless are not available. However, due to their high latency and instability of data transmission, the FCC does not recognize satellite internet service as broadband. As such, current grant programs will not award grant funds for satellite deployment.
Answer: In order to realize the full bandwidth of your selected service, your in-home router will need to be capable of supporting 1 gigabit symmetrical services. If you can't remember the last time you got a new router, it's probably time to upgrade. The general rule of thumb is that routers need to be upgraded about every 5 years for the typical user.
You can purchase new routers wherever you buy other electronics, or you may be able to work with your service provider to obtain a router that will meet your service needs.
Answer: In March 2020, the PUD launched a community-wide broadband survey. The survey aimed to understand if Lewis County residents and businesses were satisfied with broadband service availability. The survey also included a speed test component so the PUD could understand areas that were or were not being served adequately. 3,673 respondents took the survey, showing that 77.2% did not have access to adequate internet speeds. 97% of survey respondents indicated that they feel broadband is an essential utility like power and water.
Because of the volume of responses the PUD received expressing dissatisfaction with current internet speeds, the PUD began working to acquire grant funds to build updated infrastructure. To date, the PUD has received 5 grants to build fiber optic broadband infrastructure for communities throughout the PUD's service area. The PUD will build the network needed to provide 1Gbps/1Gbps services to funded areas and then open the network to qualified service providers to serve our communities.
The PUD will also be able to use a small portion of this infrastructure to support its electric system infrastructure.
Please take the survey if your home or business is not in a grant-funded area! Your survey information will be used to provide compelling data to help the PUD apply for more grants and expand the fiber network to more unserved and underserved areas. (Don't worry- we will never share personally identifiable data, only statistics.)
Answer: The PUD is continuously working to secure funding from state and federal agencies to deploy broadband infrastructure to unserved and underserved areas in the PUD service territory. Once grant funds are awarded, the PUD will begin building on a rolling basis. Construction is currently underway for some communities; for others, it may take several years.
As of March 2024, the PUD has received grant awards to deploy fiber optic broadband infrastructure to the projects outlined below. To check if your property is included in one of these awards, please use the search tool on the homepage.
Answer: This portal will be where you'll eventually sign up for services in the broadband marketplace. After submitting an application for a line extension and getting a fiber drop to your home or business, this portal will have all participating Retail Service Provider's services available for purchase. Watch the video below for a sneak peek of an example marketplace!
As infrastructure is expanded, you will receive communications from the PUD on how and when you are eligible to apply for a fiber drop and join the community network. To check the current status of your property, please search your address in the search tool on the homepage.
We are excited to support provider expansion into new markets and to have a thriving broadband ecosystem in Lewis County!
Answer: No. The PUD’s cost-based electric rates are derived primarily from the cost of wholesale power and the operation and maintenance of the electrical system.
The PUD is maximizing the grant funds available to leverage fiber optic network buildout for our communities.
The PUD’s telecommunications and electric services operate on a not-for-profit basis. The PUD is customer-owned, which means there are no shareholders for whom profits must be generated. The revenue the PUD receives from its customers is used to operate and maintain the infrastructure that provides service.
Answer: Lewis County PUD is utilizing the open-access operations model for our broadband network. This means that several qualified Retail Service Providers (RSPs) can share the network equally to provide services to end users. The PUD has chosen the open-access operating model because it has been shown to reduce service costs and improve the customer experience for end users. The reason for these positive consumer outcomes is that in an open-access marketplace with multiple providers, the providers must compete to gain customers' business. If someone is unsatisfied with their service quality, customer service experience, or other reasons, they can elect to change providers through our broadband marketplace.
Answer: If you have an issue with your existing broadband service, please contact your current Retail Service Provider (RSP). Your RSP will assess your home connection and help you troubleshoot the issue.
Answer: Congratulations on your new home! If you have searched your address, and it is not showing as a grant-funded premises, your home is not part of the grant award package. This is because if your home didn't exist at the time of the application (often 3-4 years ago), then we couldn't request funds to build to it. In this case, you must coordinate with the PUD on a line extension agreement if you'd like to connect to the LCPUD community network. Please take the survey available after searching for your address to let us know about your interest in future service.
Please note: The survey does not start the application process but will log your information with the PUD.
If you're currently under construction, we encourage all new homeowners to build conduits to their homes for future fiber to be pulled through. This will provide huge cost savings down the road if fiber becomes available! Please contact the PUD for specs for conduit placement that will meet current codes and compliance requirements.
FAQ for Broadband Survey
Answer: The survey will only take about 5 minutes to complete and the information will be invaluable for LCPUD to evaluate if the Internet needs of the community are being met and, if not, help to secure grant funds to build the needed infrastructure.
Answer: This survey requires you to provide your address so that we can ensure you live in an area where we collect survey information.
Answer: Absolutely not! The survey is for informational use only to identify areas that are unserved or underserved by current internet services. There is absolutely no commitment or obligation attached.
Answer: Yes. As long as you can reach the survey/signup form on your device, it will work for taking the survey. To get the most accurate speed test possible, please connect to your home or business Internet service with a wireline connection, or be close to your wireless access point.
Answer: If your address is not found, please send us a message through the contact tab at the top of the page. Our staff will review your address and get back to you.
Answer: If you want to update your survey answers, just take the survey again. This will replace the previous version on file. Please note that you'll need to use a different email address.
Answer: Only one survey per household/business will be accepted. If you live in an apartment building, please include your unit number so we know it is a separate residence. If you run a business out of your home, you can submit a survey as a resident of the address as well as an additional survey for the needs of your business, just make sure you select the appropriate customer type at the beginning of the survey.
Answer: The data collected will be used as statistical data to understand the community's broadband needs and opinions. Additionally, the data may be used to support grant applications to obtain funding to build networks in areas found to be unserved and underserved. Any information from the survey presented publicly or in applications will not include any personally identifying details.
Answer: This survey is only a data collection tool to understand your community’s broadband needs and to help secure grant funds to build infrastructure. This does not mean there are any plans to build new infrastructure to your area currently. Once grant funds are secured for a community, the PUD will reach out to residents and businesses in the build area with more information.
For the most current status of your address, please use the search tool on the homepage.
FAQ for Broadband Applications and Sign-Ups
Answer: If you have more than one location to manage, you’ll need to log out using the button in the upper right corner of the portal between applications. This will ensure you get the correct information and options available to the specific location you’re applying for.
Answer: No, the LCPUD Broadband Portal is a separate system and requires its own account registration. If you have not yet registered in the LCPUD Broadband Portal, you will need to do so to complete the application.
Answer: After submitting your application and paying any fees associated with the drop, your application will be approved in the system. Once approved, you will be able to search for your address, and the available service options for your location will be displayed.
Answer: The LCPUD Broadband Portal features a competitive environment where multiple service providers adjust their fees to remain competitive and secure your business in real time. Therefore, the precise cost of services is not determined by LCPUD. However, markets with robust competition typically see lower rates and higher quality services for customers.
See a live preview of the LCPUD marketplace, including services and pricing, by clicking here.
Answer: Our open access ecosystem allows new service providers to join our marketplace at any time, so you may see new providers occasionally. As of August 2024, we have 4 committed service providers. You can review their services and learn more about them through the marketplace.
Answer: Keep an eye on your mail! LCPUD will send a welcome packet with application instructions and a marketplace guide when your location becomes eligible for a grant-funded fiber drop. This will be sent to your mailing address on record. If you want to check if your location is grant-funded, search your address in the broadband portal to find the anticipated timelines for infrastructure development.
Answer: If you are receiving a survey instead of grant-funding information or an application option for a fiber drop, it means your location is not grant-funded. If you believe this is an error, please contact our team using the "Contact" tab at the top of this webpage.
Answer: Your application will be reviewed by our broadband team to verify eligibility. Once reviewed, an invoice will be sent to the email address you provided for any costs associated with your drop. After the fee is paid, your location will be added to the construction queue. A deployment team member will then contact you to confirm any on-site details and schedule an appointment for your fiber drop.
Answer: Fiber drops will be completed by either LCPUD's trusted construction partners or our own fiber installation teams. In both cases, you will be contacted beforehand to schedule the installation and verify any on-site specifics about your home or business.
Answer: LCPUD will only request funds via email for the $100 fiber drop application fee and any construction costs the grant does not cover, using the email address you provided in your application. We will not contact you by phone unless you have specifically requested it. If you have any concerns about the legitimacy of communications from LCPUD or our affiliates, please contact us directly at broadband@lcpud.org or call our broadband coordinator at (360) 740-2426. We will be glad to verify any communication.
Answer: LCPUD believes that access to quality, affordable internet is critically important. All service providers in the LCPUD open access network are required to offer a low-income program to support access for everyone. Please contact the service provider of your choice to learn more about their low-income discounts.
Answer: Currently, LCPUD is focused on delivering fiber to over 7,000 grant-funded residential and commercial locations. In the future, LCPUD plans to develop a line-extension policy for areas with existing middle-mile fiber, allowing those who wish to self-fund their fiber drop to do so. If your area is not yet grant-funded, please be assured that LCPUD is actively working to secure additional funding to build out in the unserved regions of the county.
Answer: A 1 gigabit symmetrical service means your internet connection can theoretically reach speeds of 1,000 Mbps for both download and upload. In ideal real-life conditions, users can typically expect around 940 Mbps for both upload and download, with a latency of under 100 milliseconds. If you’re running a speed test and not seeing these kinds of numbers, there are several factors that can affect these test results, influencing your overall internet experience. By understanding and mitigating these factors, you can optimize your broadband experience, ensuring that you consistently achieve near the expected 940/940 Mbps speeds with low latency.
Answer: By understanding and mitigating the factors outlined below, you can optimize your broadband experience, ensuring that you consistently achieve near the expected 940/940 Mbps speeds with low latency.
Key Factors Affecting Speed Test Results:
- Router and Modem Quality
Impact: Older or low-quality routers and modems might not support gigabit speeds, leading to degraded service coming into your home. For example, if your router can only handle speeds of up to 100mbps, you will not see speed tests that pass that threshold.
Mitigation: Ensure your router and modem are capable of handling at LEAST 1 Gbps speeds. Consider upgrading to a modern, high-performance device.
- Wired vs. Wireless Connections
Impact: Wireless connections, especially on older Wi-Fi standards, can significantly reduce speed due to signal interference, distance, and obstacles.
Mitigation: Use high quality, undamaged wired Ethernet connections where possible. For wireless, ensure your devices support Wi-Fi 6 or above and place your router in a central location to minimize obstructions. The closer you are to the wireless signal with as few obstructions as possible (walls, bushes, etc.) the better the result of your speed test will be.
- Device Limitations
Impact: Devices such as laptops, desktop computers, and cell phones that are older or have lower network capabilities may not be able to achieve gigabit speeds.
Mitigation: Upgrade to devices with gigabit Ethernet ports or Wi-Fi 6/6E compatibility. Keep your device's software and firmware updated for optimal performance.
- Background Applications and Devices
Impact: Multiple devices or applications running in the background can consume bandwidth, slowing down overall network performance.
Mitigation: Limit the number of connected devices during speed tests. Close unnecessary applications, especially those using the internet heavily.