Kitsap Public Utility District, in partnership with Kitsap County, is expanding its open-access fiber network with the construction of 21 new fiber distribution nodes located across the county.

The project is fully funded through $6.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act monies that were allocated to Kitsap for community investment, a news release says. KPUD says the investment will dramatically strengthen the resilience, capacity, and reach of its open-access fiber network.

A fiber distribution node is a small, secure building equipped with advanced network technology designed to improve internet access for unserved communities, reduce connection costs for homeowners and enhance overall network reliability. The nodes support an upgraded core network able to handle internet speeds over 100 gigabits per second, per the release. The carefully selected site of each node also provides critical redundancy to minimize outages and improve service continuity for all users.

Each location has the capacity to serve between 1,920 and 7,680 residences.

“Investing in this next-generation network infrastructure allows us to better serve our community today and into the future,” said Angela Bennink, KPUD general manager. “These new nodes will enhance network reliability, strengthen our open access model, and support faster, more robust broadband for Kitsap County residents and businesses.”

KPUD’s community-owned, open-access fiber network serves over 2,500 homes and 300 businesses, giving them a choice in internet service providers, consisting of six ISPs delivering speeds from 100 megabits per second to 10 Gbps.

Project work, expected to wrap up in the first quarter of 2026, includes new construction, equipment upgrades and minor fiber expansions to existing KPUD-owned properties, the release concludes.