Whatcom County Library System
Overview
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total E-Rate subsidies | $5K | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $18K | — | — | $445 | $10K | $10K | $9K | $12K | $9K | — | — | $12K | $28K | $31K | $33K | $24K | $20K | $32K |
| Average discount rate | 70% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 70% | 70% | — | — | 65% | 64% | 65% | 65% | 65% | 66% | 67% | 70% | 64% | 61% | 59% | 56% | 55% | 56% | 59% |
| Schools & libraries (in this area) | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Service providers | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Avg download speed (Mbps) | 477 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Avg upload speed (Mbps) | 437 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Subsidies by E-Rate service type
| Service type | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voice | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Telecomm Services | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $18K | — | — | $445 | $10K | $10K | $9K | $12K | $9K | — | — | $12K | $27K | $31K | $27K | $24K | $20K | $26K |
| Internal Connections | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Data Transmission and/or Internet Access | $5K | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $849 | — | $6K | — | — | $5K |
| Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Managed Internal Broadband Services | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wi-Fi Hotspots Services and Equipment | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Back of Envelope Estimate of Equal Distribution
| Recipient | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blaine Branch Library | $2K | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $3K |
| Deming Branch Library | $588 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $3K |
| Everson Branch Library | $3K | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $3K |
| Ferndale Library | $4K | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $3K |
| Island Library | $2K | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $3K |
| Lynden Branch Library | $3K | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $3K |
| North Fork Community Library | $2K | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $3K |
| Point Roberts Branch Library | $2K | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $3K |
| South Whatcom Library | $3K | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sumas Branch Library | $1K | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $3K |
Recipient demographics
| Recipient | City | Discount Rate | Students | NSLP | Down Mbps | Up Mbps | Urban/Rural |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blaine Branch Library | Blaine | 70% | — | — | 1,000 | 1,000 | Rural |
| Deming Branch Library | Deming | 70% | — | — | 300 | 300 | Rural |
| Everson Branch Library | Everson | 70% | — | — | 1,000 | 1,000 | Rural |
| Ferndale Library | Ferndale | 70% | — | — | 800 | 500 | Urban |
| Island Library | Lummi Island | 70% | — | — | 100 | 100 | Rural |
| Lynden Branch Library | Lynden | 70% | — | — | 1,000 | 1,000 | Rural |
| North Fork Community Library | Maple Falls | 70% | — | — | 100 | 15 | Rural |
| Point Roberts Branch Library | Point Roberts | 70% | — | — | 500 | 500 | Rural |
| South Whatcom Library | Point Roberts | 70% | — | — | 100 | 15 | Rural |
| Sumas Branch Library | Sumas | 70% | — | — | 100 | 100 | Rural |
Subsidies by service provider (top 10)
| Service provider | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZIPLY FIBER NORTHWEST, LLC | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $8K | $9K | $7K | $10K | $8K | — | — | $9K | $22K | $25K | $19K | $18K | $15K | $19K |
| Qwest Communications Corporation | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $4K | $5K | $13K | $6K | $4K | $6K |
| WAVEDIVISION HOLDINGS, LLC | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $18K | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| U S West | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $296 | $99 | $196 | $268 | $127 | — | — | $525 | $1000 | $840 | $1K | $874 | $856 | $910 |
| AT&T Corporation | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $141 | $1K | $2K | $1K | — | — | $1K | $635 | $648 | — | — | — | — |
| Astound Broadband, LLC | $5K | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| W L N | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $5K |
| Verizon Wireless (Cellco Partnership) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $445 | $1K | $1K | $951 | $720 | $576 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| City of Bellingham, Information Technology Department | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $849 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Whidbey Telephone Company | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $609 | — | — | — | — | — | $204 |
Overview and provider figures are the entity’s total authorized disbursements (entity-wide, FCC Form 471 FRN Status). Per-recipient figures are a back-of-envelope estimate: each funding request line item’s post-discount cost divided equally among the line’s recipients. FY2010–2015 figures are from USAC legacy data (BEN level). FY2026 omitted (funding year in progress). Note: the last year or two in any disbursement series always looks artificially low (FY2025 invoices are still being paid), which is why figures dip at the end — that’s the real state of USAC’s data, not an error. Source: USAC Open Data, retrieved 2026-06-10.