A couple of broadband bills we’ve been tracking throughout session are on the move.

As part of a suite of proposals introduced this year to address the problem of the digital equity divide in Washington, HB 1723 (Rep. Mia Gregerson, D–SeaTac) aimed to establish several programs within the Statewide Broadband Office (SBO) to increase services, training, and funding for traditionally underserved populations across the state.

AWC previously wrote about the bill here and here. Over the last several weeks, the proposal has been significantly amended in response to a range of input from the agencies impacted by the legislation. The bill sponsors and agency leads successfully worked together to modify the proposal. To summarize the amended bill, it:

• Codifies the Digital Equity Forum in law and allows funds to be used to compensate, for any work done in connection with the forum, additional persons with lived experience navigating barriers to digital connectivity.
• Requires the SBO, in consultation with the forum, the Utilities and Transportation Commission, and the Department of Social and Health Services, to develop a state digital equity plan and report by December 1, 2023.
  • The SBO must seek any available federal funding for purposes of developing and implementing the state digital equity plan.
• Modifies the existing Community Technology Opportunity Program by renaming it the Digital Equity Opportunity Program and redefining its purpose to be the advancement of broadband adoption and digital equity and inclusion throughout the state.
• Establishes the Digital Equity Planning Grant Program to provide grants to local governments, institutions of higher education, workforce development councils, or other entities to fund the development of a digital equity plan for a discrete geographic region of the state.
• Requires the SBO to coordinate an outreach effort to hard-to-reach communities and low-income communities across the state to provide information about broadband programs available to consumers of these communities.
• Removes the provisions establishing the Washington Broadband Assistance Program and the Anchor Institution Digital Equity Program.

Last week, the bill passed out of the Senate; it now heads back to the House for concurrence.

AWC supports HB 1723—ensuring that affordable, equitable, high-speed broadband is made accessible is imperative for all cities to thrive.

Broadband speeds

As readers know, AWC has been tracking and has been supportive of SB 5715 (Sen. Wellman, D–Mercer Island), which would modify and expand the definition of broadband from 25 megabits per second download to 100 megabits, and from three megabits per second upload to 20 megabits (the current federal speed standard is 25/3).

We’re happy to report that the bill sailed through the House unamended and passed third reading with overwhelming support. The bill is now headed to the Governor’s desk for signature.