Case Study
Kitsap PUD: Expanding Broadband with Open-Access Infrastructure
How a community-owned, open-access model, ARPA funding, and COS automation are accelerating coverage and choice in Kitsap County, WA.
900+ miles of fiber | 21 new nodes by early 2026 | 6 residential ISPs + 5 business ISPs | COS Business Engine since 2016
Kitsap Public Utility District (KPUD) is scaling a community-owned, open-access fiber network to reach unserved and underserved areas—while keeping long-term community value and customer choice front and center. Backed by ARPA funding and leveraging Local Utility District (LUD/NCLUD) financing, KPUD is adding 21 distribution nodes and preparing BEAD buildouts.
Inside this case study: how open access boosts competition, how funding + financing close the capital gap, and how COS Business Engine powers demand aggregation, the customer portal, zero-touch provisioning, and wholesale settlements across ISPs.
What you’ll learn
-
Why open access = more choice & better affordability
-
How ARPA + LUD/NCLUD + provisional BEAD buildouts fit together
-
KPUD’s automation stack: demand aggregation → customer portal → zero-touch ops
-
Practical lessons for community networks scaling fast
More Resources on the Topic
- Superior’s Open Access Journey: Empowering a Community with Fiber
- Open Access With COS Business Engine
- Whitepaper: Dare to Share Your Infrastructure
- Visit our website dedicated to Municipal Broadband
Contact us today!
