CERB provides low-interest loan/grant packages to local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes, financing the cost to build infrastructure to provide high-speed, open-access broadband service, to rural underserved communities, for the purpose of community economic development.
Funding availability
CERB offers loans at $3 million maximum per project. For state fund awards, grants are available up to 25% of the total award, determined by the underwriting process and debt service coverage ratio (DSCR).
- Interest rates: 1-3%
- Term: Up to 20 years
- Applicants must:
- Provide a cash match of 20% of the total project cost.
- Demonstrate feasibility with a supporting study.
Project eligibility
The Rural Broadband program only provides funding for construction and planning for broadband projects in Rural Counties and Rural Communities (PDF).
Eligible projects are those that encourage, foster, develop, and improve broadband within the state in order to:
- Drive job creation, promote innovation, and expand markets for local businesses; or
- Serve the ongoing and growing needs of local education systems, health care systems, public safety systems, industries and businesses, governmental operations, and citizens; and
- Improve accessibility for underserved communities and populations.
Ineligible activities
CERB may not finance projects which:
- Result in retail development
- Facilitate gambling
- Displace jobs from one part of the state to another
- Are outside the applicant’s jurisdiction
- Are for equipment which would enable a public entity to provide retail telecommunications services or services that the entity is not authorized by statute to provide.
- Are for the deployment of publicly-owned telecommunication network infrastructure (“backbone”) solely for the sake of creating competitive, publicly-owned telecommunication network infrastructure.
Including, but not limited to, for the purpose of broadband infrastructure:
- Cable Modem: 300 Mbps / 70 Mbps
- Fiber: 1 Gbps / 1 Gbps
- Wireless (fixed wireless, wifi): 300 Mbps / 70 Mbps
- 4G Mobile Wireless: 300 Mbps / 70 Mbps
- Broadband over Powerlines (BPL): 300 Mbps / 70 Mbps
- Microwave: 300 Mbps / 70 Mbps
- Cities and towns
- Counties
- Federally recognized tribes
- Municipal corporations
- Quasi-municipal corporations
- Public port districts
- Special purpose districts
How to apply for funding
Applications for all of CERB’s funding programs are considered on an ongoing basis. The Board meets every two months to consider projects and make funding decisions.
Do you have a project? Potential applicants must contact CERB staff to discuss their project, prior to receiving a link to the online application.
Application due dates
Policies, sample and instructions
- 2025-27 CERB Program Policies (PDF)
- CERB Rural Broadband Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
- ZoomGrants RB Application Overview/Sample (PDF)
- ZoomGrants Application Information and Tips (PDF)
Project threshold checklist
Prior to submitting an application, please print out and complete the
RB Project Threshold Checklist (PDF). This will help ensure that the submitted application is complete.
Additional resources
- Median Wage FAQ (PDF)
- Median Wage by County (PDF)
- Median Wage Calculator (Excel)
- Match Calculator (Excel)
- Governor’s Executive Order 21-02
- Cultural Resource Review (21-02) Process (PDF)
- EZ Project Review Form (PDF)
- Federally Recognized Tribes in Washington State
- DAHP Cultural Resources Reporting Guidelines (PDF)
- Hiring A Preservation Consultant
Resources
- Comprehensive Broadband Federal Funding Guide
- Washington State Broadband Office
- Public Works Board Broadband Financing
- USDA ReConnect Loan & Grant Program
- USDA Community Connect Grants
- USDA Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants
- US Dept. of the Interior’s Joint Overview Established Location Map
- FCC Interactive Map/ISP Finder
- WSU Digital Initiatives