Washoe County leaders, residents, and business partners gathered in Gerlach last month to celebrate the expansion of broadband access, marking the culmination of years of collaboration and construction to bring high-speed internet to this rural northern Washoe County town.
The project is a key milestone in County Manager Eric Brown’s ongoing commitment to digital equity. Working with Chief Information Officer Behzad Zamanian and his team, Brown spearheaded an initiative to identify resources for expanding broadband in underserved rural communities. Following a brief study, Washoe County Technology Services developed a Connectivity Master Plan, identifying Gerlach as a top priority.
In partnership with the Nevada Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology (OSIT), the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, and other stakeholders, Washoe County secured funding from E-Rate, FCC, and State sources. These efforts enabled the hiring of Digital Technology Solutions (DTS) to construct 60 miles of middle-mile fiber, delivering broadband to key facilities in Gerlach by 2023.
“Just over two years ago, we recognized the importance of broadband connectivity and prioritized Gerlach in our master plan,” Zamanian said. “This project’s success is due to the strong collaboration with OSIT, DTS Fiber, and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. We now have 74 of the 108 homes in Gerlach connected to high-speed internet.”
Phase one of the project began in August 2022, focusing on public infrastructure. Within 12 months, broadband access was successfully installed in key public buildings, including the library, school, community center, and fire station. This achievement was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the library, attended by representatives from OSIT, Washoe County, DTS Fiber, and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe in July 2023.
In February 2024, Washoe County entered into an agreement with DTS Fiber to expand broadband access to residential homes in Gerlach and Empire, communities with populations of 28 and 156, respectively. DTS Fiber installed the fiber backbone to street poles and homes at a cost of up to $724,000. The agreement also secured a 50% discount for Washoe County on a previous deal with DTS Fiber, and residents can enjoy discounted high-speed internet rates for five years.
The project reached a major milestone on August 14, 2024, when the county celebrated the successful residential rollout of broadband. As Zamanian highlighted, 74 of 108 homes are now connected, providing residents with access to vital services such as telehealth, e-commerce, remote work, and online education.
Local business owner Adah Lavoy, who runs Black Rock Massage, described how the new high-speed internet has transformed her operations.
“Before, I was tethering from my phone to manage everything in my clinic,” Lavoy explained. “Now, with reliable internet, scheduling, billing, and communicating with insurance companies are much easier. Everything is running more smoothly.”
Looking ahead, Washoe County remains committed to expanding broadband to other rural areas, including the North Valleys, Warm Springs/Palomino Valley, and parts of Washoe Valley.
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