About Us

Efforts to increase access to the latest telecommunications technology have been a key to the Gorge's economic stability and prosperity for many years. Since their inception, these efforts have benefited from a collaborative approach to addressing community and business telecommunication needs.

The Goal

The Gorge Broadband Consortium seeks to ensure that residents and businesses have the broadband access, and skills, to take advantage of the resources, services, and markets available on the internet today.

Current Projects

To accomplish these goals, the Gorge Broadband Consortium is:

• Working with communities, internet service providers, and local and regional governments to address access challenges in Klickitat and Skamania Counties through the Klickitat-Skamania Local Technology Planning Team.
• Hosting training opportunities throughout the spring of 2014 to help bring community members and businesses the tools they need to take full advantage of the broadband access available currently.
• Increasing awareness of the benefits of broadband through supporting the Web Work: Anywhere! Forum series that highlights businesses taking advantage of broadband connectivity to access worldwide markets and thrive from rural areas in the Gorge.

History of Collaboration in the Gorge

The Columbia Gorge Broadband Consortium builds upon efforts made over many years in the Gorge. These include the Gorge Teleconsortium, the Klickitat-Skamania Horizons Telecommunications Committee, the Klickitat-Skamania Local Technology Planning Team and the QLife-Wasco County Strategic Planning efforts that focused on ensuring telecommunication advancements were accessible in our region.

Each of these projects increased awareness of and access to telecommunication advancements during their period of activity. Today's focus remains on increasing broadband connection and adoption to support the Mid-Columbia region's communities and economic development

In addition to these efforts, broadband access has been identified as key to the region's economy in the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and the North Central Regional Solution's Team's priorities

Accomplishments

Throughout the Gorge the work of local partners has increased the know-how and access to broadband in our communities. Major accomplishments include:

• Bringing Broadband to Glenwood.

  With a small population and a challenging landscape for broadband service provision, these partners knew that it would take a creative approach to get high speed internet service to the rural community of Glenwood. The efforts were a success because of the persistence and hard work from all involved, starting with the WSU Extension Horizon's program and including local residents, Mt Adams Resource Stewards, Community Enrichment for Klickitat County, SawTooth Technologies, GorgeNet, and CenturyLink. Currently, GorgeNet provides 5Mb wireless service to approximately 45 new customers in the Glenwood area with more coming online every month. CenturyLink connected services in February, and will be able to provide up to 10Mb service to many residents.

• Community Broadband Report

  The Klickitat-Skamania Local Technology Planning Team reached out to over 500 residents and businesses in the two counties to learn more about their ability to access and utilize broadband. The results of this outreach, along with information gathered from local service providers and partners, provided the foundation for the 2013 Community Broadband Report. This report gives a solid foundation for those interested in working to address access gaps or adoption challenges.

• Community Training Opportunities

  Over the course of six months, the Klickitat-Skamania Local Technology Planning Team hosted eight trainings that focused on providing information for businesses and residents interested in taking better advantage of the resources available online.

• National Association of Development Organizations: Innovation Award

  MCEDD and the Klickitat-Skamania Local Technology Planning Team won a NADO Innovation Award for their broadband planning work in 2013.

Get Involved

Interested in participating? Keep an eye out for our next meeting, training or forum! Or get in touch with Carrie at carrie@mcedd.org or 541-296-2266 with questions.