The telecommunications industry continues to morph at an astounding pace. It is an era where high-speed, broadband access will be ubiquitous. Few technologies have spread as quickly, or become so widely used, as computers and the Internet. These are common fixtures of modern social and economic life, opening opportunities and new avenues for many Americans....and the world.

In Kitsap County, it is a path to economic development and global competitive advantage. No wonder the Kitsap Regional Economic Development Council (KREDC) calibrated its focus onto the stellar advancements of Kitsap Regional Telecommunications Committee (KRTC), a three-year ad hoc group recently formalized under the former’s umbrella.

Given the Kitsap Public Utility District #1’s (KPUD) successful completion of its ambitious fiber optic backbone throughout the county, the critical question remains: How will the “last mile” service to businesses and residents be provided?

KRTC continues to assess these questions and more. Fueled by a “future now” motto, the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council (KRCC) pursues legal and financial vehicles on the public sector side to facilitate objective functionality between Local Utility Districts, consumers, service providers, municipalities, and tribes.

On the private sector side, a KRTC subcommittee explores funding models, education regarding a killer application for high speed interconnectivity, and encourages public/private partnerships which will promote open access services on the back end of infrastructure.

Many have departed KRTC meetings with changed ideas and concepts. The committee proceeds in an unprecedented forum whereby public and private sector entities collaborate to provide services to the regional population. The City of Poulsbo’s recent decision to pursue a municipal network utilizing KPUD#1 fiber backbone is yet another model for delivering low-cost, high quality telecom services.

Concurrently, efforts by Charter Business Networks, Sprint, and Northwest Network Services further expand the footprint using pre-existing infrastructure. Educational, policy and funding campaigns by West Sound Technology Professionals Association (WSTPA), Professional Options, and Fair Competition Alliance closes the loop of a comprehensive initiative to ensure Kitsap constituents have economically and practically feasible solutions.

During the seemingly quiet dog days of summer, KRTC has been blazing a trail on behalf of Kitsap’s future. And that future is now.

(Editor’s Note: Doña Keating is President and CEO of Professional Options, a prominent innovator in the policy and consulting industry, Professional Options creates solutions for businesses, organizations and governmental agencies. Its goal is to provide cutting-edge results that will turn unresolvables into integral, proactive solutions. The company has built an extensive client portfolio, and provides tools that bring context awareness to each environment. Professional Options is headquartered in Seattle with additional presence in Gig Harbor, Chicago, and New Jersey. For more information, visit www.professionaloptions.org.).