Langley, WA – On October 9, 2026, delegates from across the Pacific spent the afternoon at Whidbey Telecom’s business offices in Freeland, Washington. The visit was coordinated by the World Affairs Council of Seattle as part of the professional exchange program “Advancing Digital Connectivity Infrastructure: Undersea Cables.”
Participating countries and regions included: Australia, Fiji, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, the Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu.
“The exchange generated lots of good questions and ideas from all parties,” said Wayne Jeffers, Director of Technology & Strategic Initiatives at Whidbey Telecom. “We talked about our existing infrastructure and undersea cables, the ownership and operation involved, and upcoming projects.”
The discussion also highlighted how Whidbey Telecom is putting these ideas into practice through its Middle Mile Project.
Supported by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the Middle Mile Project is an effort to build out the fiber infrastructure needed to improve broadband connectivity for communities across Whidbey Island, the San Juan Islands, and Point Roberts. It combines new terrestrial fiber on Whidbey Island with approximately 53 miles of planned subsea infrastructure connecting Whidbey Island, Decatur Island, and Point Roberts.
Camille Adkins-Rieck, Director of Global Leadership Exchange at the World Affairs Council of Seattle, shared that the delegates felt very welcomed when they met with the Whidbey team, the last stop on their visit. “[Whidbey Telecom] was the most thoughtful organization [the delegates] met with. They attributed it to that island hospitality, which is shared across the Pacific Ocean, even though the water here is a tad colder!” She added that the delegates felt the team at Whidbey understood them on a deeper level, being from the islands themselves and sharing those geographic adversities.
“The group will be returning to their respective countries and preparing presentations for their colleagues and governments to share what they’ve learned,” Adkins-Rieck concluded. “They were inspired by Whidbey Telecom’s work to connect the islands and hope to use this structure as a model.”
About Whidbey Telecom
Locally owned and operated since 1908, Whidbey Telecom continually strives to enhance connectivity and improve the quality of life in the communities it serves. We believe broadband infrastructure and access to high-speed internet service is critical to residents, businesses, schools, hospitals, and public safety in Island County and beyond. We continue to explore and pursue opportunities for collaboration and cooperation with our vendors, nonprofits, and community partners.
