About Our Project:

According to Toledo Telephone, fewer than 50 percent of households in its service area and fewer than 20 percent of the neighboring tribal area subscribe to broadband, and the region has a population that is

disproportionately low-income, unemployed, under-educated, and older.  The company proposes to increase broadband adoption and  economic opportunities in the region by partnering with the Cowlitz Tribe to provide equipment, expand its existing network, and provide education relevant to the Lewis County community and tribal members.  Participants will complete a training curriculum to qualify for a subsidized computer that would be provided “on loan” until the end of the two-year training period. 

To more fully address root causes of the lack of broadband adoption in the area, Toledo Telephone would offer discounted broadband to enable participants to become home subscribers. The project plans to partner with established institutions in the tribal community, furthering adoption and increasing the program’s effectiveness.

This project is funded through a two-year grant of$2,108,475 from the U.S Department of Commerce’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program.

Our Mission:

The Toledo/Cowlitz Broadband Initiative also proposes to:

• Encourage broadband subscribership and train approximately 750 residents over the life of the project, offering approximately 30,000 hours of teacher-led training. Training will focus on basic computer literacy and job searching skills.
• Engage the community with direct mail, signage in tribal buildings, ads in tribal newsletters, and printed literature, as well as general outreach activities including door outreach, newspaper ads, and a refer-afriend program.
• Leverage its existing 24/7 customer support, network operations, maintenance, and technical support for its customers.

 Project Partners:

• Cowlitz Indian Tribal Housing
• Cowlitz Indian Tribal Transit Authority

Contact: 

Dale Merten

Toledo Telephone Company, Inc.

183 Plomondon Road

Toledo, WA 98591-9709

(360) 864-204

btop@toledotel.com