MYTH: "If Comcast/Astound/Wave leaves, our internet will collapse."

REALITY: Rights-of-way remain public, plant can be acquired or replaced, and local government can ensure continuity via KPUD & interlocal tools. Public control of the last mile with open-access competition is the durable fix.

The Demand: Create the Kitsap Municipal Broadband Authority (KMBA)

End Infrastructure Apartheid: City Hall has fiber. You have failing coax. See the $3.4M proof →

Spin off KPUD Broadband into an independent, broadband-only public utility with its own board, mandate, and budget. Treat broadband like a competitive service—not just another pipe.

All: $12M+ public investment, 700+ miles ready, franchises expired.

What KMBA Must Do

Dedicated Governance Board

Independent board focused solely on broadband; direct accountability to residents.

Aggressive Deployment Timelines

Mandated build schedules with public dashboards; penalties for slippage.

Open-Access by Default

Wholesale access for multiple ISPs and retail where authorized; no exclusives.

Performance Metrics

KPIs tied to homes connected, uptime, and customer satisfaction—not just fiber miles.

Go-to-Market Muscle

Aggressive marketing, ISP partnership management, competitive packaging, and tech support.

📍 Chattanooga EPB

Separate fiber division with dedicated leadership delivering gigabit citywide.

Result: $2.69B economic impact over 10 years

Learn more →

📍 Longmont NextLight

Standalone municipal broadband utility with clear mandates and rapid uptake.

Result: 64% take rate, $70 gigabit

See our analysis →

📍 Fort Collins Connexion

Independent broadband service with community oversight and published KPIs.

Result: Voters approved despite $900K ISP opposition

Learn more →

The Evidence Is Clear

May 2023

Comcast franchise expired

View →
$3.4M

City pays for fiber

View →
45%

Packet loss documented

View →
700+ miles

Fiber ready to use

View →

KMBA Charter — What We’re Asking Leaders to Adopt

A concise, evergreen charter you can paste into a resolution/ordinance. No dates or expiring details.

CHARTER

Kitsap Municipal Broadband Authority (KMBA)

Purpose & Scope

  • Deliver high-reliability, affordable, open-access broadband countywide, prioritizing unserved/underserved areas.
  • Plan, finance, build, operate, and maintain last-mile fiber and related facilities; wholesale access to multiple ISPs; retail service where authorized by law (RCW 54.16.330).

Governance

  • Board: 7 members — 1 County appointee, 1 from each city (4), 1 KPUD nominee, 1 at-large resident with broadband/utility expertise. Staggered 4-year terms; ethics rules.
  • Advisory Seats (non-voting): education, healthcare, and small-business representatives.
  • Transparency: Open public meetings, published agendas, minutes, and quarterly KPI dashboards.

Open-Access & Competition

  • Non-discriminatory wholesale access; standard interconnection and SLAs.
  • No exclusivity; reasonable, cost-based access pricing; publish wholesale rate cards and SLAs.

Performance Metrics (report quarterly)

  • Homes serviceable & homes connected (primary KPIs).
  • Uptime, MTTR, install lead time, latency/jitter, CSAT.
  • Adoption in low-income/multifamily areas; complaint resolution time.

Equity & Affordability

  • Low-income plans; ACP-replacement/LIHWAP-style support if available; flexible connection-fee financing.
  • Prioritize schools, healthcare, and high-complaint blocks in phasing.

Finance & Assets

  • Revenue bonds, grants, and connection fees; assets owned by KMBA or partner public entities.
  • Use interlocal agreements for operations with KPUD and cities/county (RCW 39.34).

Rights-of-Way & Construction

  • Adopt countywide dig-once, add-conduit, standardized permits/inspections, and coordinated capital plans.
  • Comply with pole-attachment/make-ready timelines; publish standard specs.

Customer Protection

  • Plain-language offer sheets; no hidden fees; no term-lock for residential; clear outage credits and escalation.
  • Privacy by design; prohibit data resale except as required by law.

Review

  • Annual independent audit (financial + performance) and public hearing on results.
  • Five-year strategic plan refresh with public input.

Implementation Paths After KMBA is Established

KMBA leads; cities + county coordinate. Use public backbone, end the duopoly.

PLAN A

Interlocal + Open Access with KPUD (RCW 39.34; RCW 54.16.330)

How It Works

  1. KMBA–KPUD Interlocal assigns operations (NOC, provisioning, repairs) and sets SLAs + nondiscrimination.
  2. ROW Standards in 60 days (dig-once, conduit, permits, pole attachments/make-ready).
  3. Service Model: Open-access wholesale (multiple ISPs) and KMBA/KPUD retail where authorized.
  4. Funding: Revenue bonds + BEAD/ARPA/state grants + connection fees; phase by demand/complaints.

Why This Works

  • KPUD has 700+ miles ready [1]
  • $12M+ already invested [2]
  • Poulsbo proving model works [3]
  • Legal authority confirmed [4]

Timeline

6–12 months to light first zones after agreements/funding; 12–24 months for broader build.

PLAN B

Targeted Acquisition / Condemnation of Last-Mile Plant (RCW 8.08; 8.12; 54.16.050)

When Used

If incumbents obstruct lawful progress (pole access, conduit, easements). Use narrow takings for chokepoints.

Timeline

12–24+ months, depending on scope/litigation; phased takings accelerate priority neighborhoods.

Why This Must Happen NOW

Jurisdiction Is Clear

County controls unincorporated areas; each city controls its streets. KMBA coordinates, everyone moves together.

Backbone Exists — Governance Lags

$12M+ invested, but execution is stuck in a water/power mindset. KMBA fixes incentives and focus.

Funds on the Table

Federal/state dollars can reduce debt service and speed buildout; local resolve sets the pace.

One Plan, Five Jurisdictions

Adopt matching resolutions and interlocal terms. Fragmentation is Comcast's advantage—coordination is ours.

Franchises Already Expired

Comcast expired May 2023 [1], Wave January 2023 [2]. 20+ months illegal operation. Act NOW.

Targeted Proof

Countywide Facts:

  • Both franchises expired (Comcast May 2023, Wave Jan 2023)
  • $12M+ public investment stranded
  • 700+ miles KPUD fiber ready
  • 45% packet loss documented
  • 58% dissatisfaction rate

Evidence for Your City:

Bremerton

  • $3.4M Wave contract for city facilities
  • 58% Comcast dissatisfaction (2022 survey)
  • No residential fiber despite infrastructure

Bainbridge Island

  • 70% price increases without notice
  • KPUD charges $90 vs Comcast $500+ for gigabit
  • Franchise renewal pending

Port Orchard

  • Wave franchise exists but hidden from public
  • No transparency on agreements

Poulsbo

  • KPUD already serving neighborhoods
  • Proof the model works

Unincorporated County

  • County let franchises expire while $12M+ sits unused
  • Adopt dig-once/conduit and interlocal now

📢 Our Specific Demands to County & City Leaders

Create KMBA (30 Days)

Adopt a joint ordinance/resolution to establish the Kitsap Municipal Broadband Authority with a dedicated board and budget.

Publish KMBA Charter & KPIs (45 Days)

Mandates, open-access policy, service tiers, and KPIs tied to homes connected, uptime, and customer satisfaction.

Execute Interlocal(s) (60 Days)

Define KMBA–KPUD roles (NOC, provisioning, repairs), ROW standards (dig-once, conduit), and a phased cutover plan.

Choose Asset Path

Targeted acquisition/condemnation of chokepoints or new fiber over existing conduit/poles—publish maps & schedule.

Here's Your Mission

1. Call Your Commissioner & City Council

Say this:

"Create KMBA in 30 days, publish the charter & KPIs in 45, execute the interlocal(s) & countywide ROW standards in 60. We’ve already paid $6.6M (ARPA), $5.5M (BTOP), and $300k in Bremerton spurs — plus ≈$3.3M in rent. Use what we built for residents."

Get Phone Numbers

2. Email This Demand

Copy a city-aware template and send it to all three commissioners and your city council.

3. Report Your Story

Tell us about outages, throttling, packet loss, or pricing. Your story builds the public record.

Report Your Story

End Infrastructure Apartheid

City Hall Gets Fiber. You Get Failures.

$3.4M for government fiber. 45% packet loss for you. 700+ miles ready but blocked. This ends NOW.

Decision Deadline:

30 Days From Today

30 days remaining

🔎 Legal Authority

View full legal framework with analysis:

See Legal Documentation →

These statutes sit alongside federal law (e.g., FCC "mixed-use" for cable broadband). Align local steps with federal constraints.