Submitted by Comcast
A recent report from BroadbandNow Research, a research firm that conducts comparisons on internet companies using data from the Federal Communications Commission and internet providers, compiled the broadband data for all 50 states and found that Washington is among the top five best overall states for broadband internet.
There are two key considerations for how good the broadband infrastructure is in a state — overall coverage and quality of those connections. The rankings considered overall access to broadband, access to low-cost broadband, download and upload speeds, and access to fiber-optic service.
What’s even better news for internet subscribers in Skagit County is that they may expect to receive even faster and more reliable service thanks to a $280 million investment by Comcast this year to offer multi-gigabit Internet speeds to more than four million locations, expand broadband and video services to more than 60,000 additional homes and businesses, and provide donations and in-kind services to communities throughout the Pacific Northwest.
As a part of the investment, Comcast is expanding fiber-rich network improvements that will offer Washington customers upload speeds up to 10 times faster than the fastest they have now. And the network upgrade will extend throughout Comcast’s service area in Washington. Once complete, these locations will have the foundational next-generation network to introduce new multi-gigabit Internet options.
The first phase of network enhancements is happening now and will initially offer a maximum download speed of 2 Gbps, combined with upload speeds up to 200 Mbps, which is five to 10 times faster than Comcast’s existing upload speeds. Comcast expects that nearly half of the company’s network in Washington will offer multi-gig Internet speeds by the end of 2023.
Comcast will also expand its network to deliver Xfinity Internet and TV services and Comcast Business Internet services to nearly 60,000 additional homes and businesses, including the rural communities of Battleground, Chattaroy, Key Peninsula, and Sumas in Washington.
The network expansion is the latest example of Comcast’s investment to connect more households and businesses in the Pacific Northwest. Comcast expanded access to Xfinity and Comcast Business products and services to 229,000 additional Washington homes and businesses in the last five years.
