This legislative session there have been two approaches to the deployment of broadband infrastructure and small cell facilities. SB 5935, Sens. Tim Sheldon (D-Potlatch) and Reuven Carlyle (D-Seattle), is a bill that would require cities to adopt ordinances or policies establishing permitting processes for siting small cell facilities, when the city has received a completed application from a small cell wireless service provider. There is an additional provision that if cities have previously adopted a small cell facility ordinance or policy consistent with the requirements of the bill, they are not required to adopt a new ordinance or policy. The bill also creates a state broadband office, extends the State Universal Service Program to 2025, and includes some limited increased authority for certain PUDs and ports to provide internet services.

In the House, Rep. Jeff Morris (D-Mount Vernon) introduced HB 2592 that would create a voluntary list of cities deemed “investment ready” for advanced wireless technologies. It would specify the perimeters under which a city would qualify, such as having adopted a streamlined and predictable permit process, and calls for the Department of Commerce to post the list of local governments deemed investment-ready on their website.

Now that the deadline has passed for bills to advance to the opposite chamber, only SB 5935 remains alive.

AWC has been commenting on language and testifying on each of these bills all along the process. There are additional amendments AWC will be advancing on SB 5935 as the bill is debated in the House Technology & Economic Development Committee later this week.