Translate
“Broadband has gone from being a luxury to a necessity for full participation in our economy and society – for all Americans.”
Clackamas County Commissioner Paul Savas on the importance of Internet connectivity
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us clearly that the Internet is no longer a luxury. Instead, Internet access has become a basic necessity. Whether it’s for school, an online medical appointment, work, banking, or staying in touch with loved ones, access to high-speed Internet has become essential in the modern world.
Recognizing the importance of broadband for all, the Board of Commissioners made the availability of affordable, high-speed Internet service to all county homes and businesses a county strategic goal. In July, Clackamas County Commissioners allocated up to $10.1 million of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds the county received towards providing high-speed Internet access to additional residents in rural or underserved parts of the county.
Clackamas County’s Clackamas Broadband eXchange (CBX) has been working to make high-speed Internet service for all a reality for over a decade. The new available funds will go to expanding the infrastructure.
Areas in the first phase of construction are:
- Lusted Road, Sandy
- Colorado Road & Gunderson, Sandy
- Government Camp
- Lolo Pass Road, Welches
The CBX network is a fiber optic cable infrastructure system that has very high bandwidth capacity. CBX is purchasing the equipment to make it an “open access” network and then partner with existing Internet Service Providers (ISP) to deliver the Internet to homes and businesses. The customer will be able to choose who they want as their service provider from the partnering ISPs.
About Clackamas Broadband eXchange
Clackamas County's broadband infrastructure — the Clackamas Broadband eXchange — is changing the way our communities educate, respond to emergencies and conduct business by providing cost-effective, high-speed communications and data transfer.
In 2010, Clackamas County used a federal grant of $7.8 million to develop a fiber network in Clackamas County east of the Willamette River. The grant funded a 180-mile network that was constructed from 2010–13. Since that time, CBX has expanded the network to over 360 miles throughout Clackamas County, connecting into areas such as Wilsonville, West Linn and Lake Oswego. Services have expanded to schools, public agencies, and local commercial service providers.
Currently, CBX is providing the infrastructure for broadband to:
- 97 K-12 schools
- Three colleges
- 14 libraries
- 25 fire stations
- 13 State of Oregon Departments
Questions? Please email cbxinfo@clackamas.us