Delegates from 10 Pacific nations tour Whidbey Telecom

Ten delegates from across the Pacific visited Whidbey Telecom in Freeland on Oct. 9 to examine how the company manages undersea fiber-optic cables. The group included representatives from Australia, Fiji, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Korea, the Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu. They participated in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, which facilitates professional exchanges between international leaders and American institutions.

The World Affairs Council of Seattle coordinated the trip under a program titled “Advancing Digital Connectivity Infrastructure: Undersea Cables.” During an afternoon meeting at the company’s Freeland offices, the visitors discussed the specific difficulties of maintaining communications infrastructure across bodies of water. Wayne Jeffers, the company’s director of technology and strategic initiatives, stated that the session produced strong questions and ideas from all participants.

“We talked about our existing infrastructure and undersea cables, the ownership and operation involved, and upcoming projects,” Jeffers said. A primary focus of the discussion was the Middle Mile Project, an initiative funded by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. This effort aims to expand fiber-optic coverage to Whidbey Island, the San Juan Islands, and Point Roberts by adding roughly 53 miles of new undersea infrastructure.

The project links Whidbey Island, Decatur Island, and Point Roberts through new fiber lines. This work addresses a common challenge for the visiting delegates: providing reliable service to communities where geography complicates construction and maintenance. The delegates noted that Whidbey Telecom’s approach offered practical solutions to problems they face in their own island nations.

Camille Adkins-Rieck, director of global leadership exchange at the World Affairs Council of Seattle, said the Whidbey Telecom visit was the final stop on the itinerary. She reported that the visitors described the company as the most thoughtful organization they encountered during the exchange. Adkins-Rieck attributed this positive reception to the shared experience of island living. “They attributed it to that island hospitality, which is shared across the Pacific Ocean, even though the water here is a tad colder!” she said.

The delegates plan to return to their respective countries to present their findings to colleagues and government officials. Adkins-Rieck said the group intends to use the Whidbey Telecom model as a reference for their own infrastructure planning. The company, founded in 1908, continues to serve local residents, businesses, schools, hospitals, and public safety agencies with broadband services.