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Recently, Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet) announced that it has received a second federal grant to enlarge its high-speed broadband stimulus service to almost all areas of the state where services are currently not available.

In a release, Greg Marney who is the CEO of NoaNet said that"This broadband initiative will create immediate jobs, attract economic investment to rural areas, and provide reliable, high-speed internet access to schools, libraries, emergency responders, hospitals, government agencies, businesses and individuals. Imagine a rural doctor being able to instantaneously share a patient's test results and consult with an expert at any major medical center in the world. It's a big deal for rural Washington."

The program, already having a fund of $185 million, received a second federal broadband technology opportunity program grant of $54 million. With this, NoaNet is planning to   build over 1,300 miles of new fiber which has the capability to deliver an improved and less expensive broadband service to 55 economically depressed communities. It covers 538,559 households and 103,230 businesses throughout 25 of Washington's 39 counties.

Usually, remote areas lack the required facilities to share crucial information among fire, police, hospitals and first responders. In addition to that, businesses are hesitant to relocate or flourish in areas where broadband service is not available.

The new broadband service provides improved life-saving 911 services to all occupied locations in the State. The real-time data transfer capability over wireless networks enables EMTs to converse with hospital physicians from the injury sites. This significantly enhances response times. When a patient gets medical treatment immediately after injury, the chances of survival is increased by 90 percent.

The new broadband infrastructure delivers a flawless network which is available to over 170 communities and 2,000 schools, hospitals, emergency responders, libraries, colleges and universities, such as:

• Linking 34 community colleges which create possibilities for collaboration on research and information exchange.

• Facility to diagnosis from distant places. This improves professional training with less travel. Thus, it offers instant assessment and guidance to emergency workers through videoconferencing.

• Facilitates businesses to use credit/debit card systems, automated inventory and fulfillment systems, and web sales.

• Offers farmers the facility to participate in commodities trading.