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Fatbeam lands $2 million fiber contract

| April 9, 2018 1:00 AM

COEUR d’ALENE — Fatbeam, LLC announced on Sunday that it had closed a deal with a regional carrier to place 100 route miles of fiber from Liberty Lake to Bonners Ferry.

The new fiber network agreement, which is valued at an estimated $2 million, will connect eastern Washington to North Idaho within miles of the Canadian border, and discussions are already in place to connect the network to Canadian carriers.

Not unique to the industry, Fatbeam does not disclose the actual carrier name to respect confidentiality in fiber routes as well as security concerns.

Additionally, in 2017 Fatbeam won a fiber service contract with Boundary County School District to deliver broadband service between its school locations. The project earned accolades from the Federal Communications Commission board and staff as a rural broadband success in North Idaho. The BCSD project is heavily reliant on state matching funds provided by a broadband bill championed by Idaho State Rep. Luke Malek, who is currently running for Congress in Idaho’s First Congressional District.

“Because of Rep. Malek’s work, students in Boundary County will have faster broadband speeds than most of their peers across the country,” said Fatbeam CEO Gregory Green. “When you pair that with Fatbeam’s recent carrier contract which will connect that same community to eastern Washington and TierPoint, a major data facility, you increase the potential for innovation and opportunity in the region, which can have a huge economic impact.”

“I’m thrilled to see the Legislature’s commitment to broadband infrastructure meet its goal of providing more internet access to schools, business and families,” said Malek. “However, I’m equally excited to see the opportunities for the excellent companies we have in Idaho to play a leading role in taking us into the future. I’m proud of the role I was able to play in creating an environment where Fatbeam can take Idaho into the future.”