Columbia County Awarded Oregon’s BEAD Funding
February 18, 2026On Wednesday, Feb. 4, Columbia County (Oregon) was approved for $9.5 million in BEAD funding, making it one of only four public entities in Oregon to receive broadband funding. This represents an important step toward closing longstanding service gaps and fostering equitable access to digital infrastructure.
Columbia County took steps to position itself to improve service availability and pursue federal broadband funding opportunities. Their process started by identifying underserved areas and developing a regional broadband plan. Columbia County engaged SNG to support this work, helping to make the economic case for investing in broadband and conducting a comprehensive Broadband Economic Feasibility Assessment.
This detailed assessment demonstrated how a County-owned fiber network could be financed through a combination of residential subscriptions and community anchor institutions (CAIs) connectivity. It also provided crucial evidence that the network could achieve financial sustainability by serving both high-cost rural and commercially viable areas, which is a key component in making the business case for public investment.
SNG values our longstanding partnership with Columbia County and applauds this milestone as part of Oregon’s historic broadband expansion. We stand ready to support the County, and others like Columbia County, as they move forward with the implementation and delivery of broadband solutions that will have immediate and lasting impact on their community.
Ready to see what smart broadband strategy can unlock for your own community? Learn more about digital infrastructure strategy for localities here.
For a closer look at what that impact looks like on the ground, explore our success stories and see how SNG’s broadband strategy drives local economies forward.