Broadband Project

The City of John Day received a special appropriation of $1.836M from the state legislature to modernize Grant County's digital infrastructure. The network will provide high-speed internet services to many Grant County residents currently underserved by private sector providers.

Updates!

As of April 2022, funds are being authorized by the State of Oregon, and the next phase of construction is expected to begin later this year.

Network Design

The network will be supported by a fiber optic line that extends from U.S. Highway 26 in John Day south to U.S. Highway 20 in Burns. As currently envisioned, the network will be deployed in multiple phases: Phase 1 will construct the network from John Day to Seneca; Phase 2 will construct the fiber optic connection from Seneca to Burns; Phase 3 will expand coverage to outlying communities as resources permit.

Network Operations

The network will be owned and operated by the Grant County Digital Network Coalition, a consortium of local governments (John Day, Seneca and the County Commission). The Coalition will act similar to an asset holding company. It will own the digital network assets and will be responsible for financing the network. The Coalition will set policy and will issue contracts for the design, build, operations and maintenance of the broadband network, but it will not directly employ any staff. Its primary function will be to finance and oversee the construction of the network and ensure it is operating in accordance with its policy objectives.

Timeline

The participating agencies adopted ordinances to form the Grant County Digital Network Coalition on April 10, 2018. Construction of Phase 1 of the network is scheduled to begin early in 2019. As of 2022, key government offices and community institutions have been connected with fiber internet.

To learn more or contact the board visit their website here.