The Legislature’s broadband mapping bill has shapeshifted substantially this year, moving from a proposal to create a statewide broadband map to a plan to support a more accurate federal broadband map. Having narrowed and broadened its scope at each turn, HB 1746 was recently amended to narrow its scope further, updating its intent and definitional language yet again.

Read our previous coverage of the bill’s evolution here and here.

The most recent amendment, introduced by Senator Lisa Wellman (D–Mercer Island), make two changes of note.

First, it updates the bill’s intent language to convey that the Legislature aims to incentivize participation in broadband data submission only by those entities that are required to submit data collection filings to the FCC. The previous version of the bill used broader language that included entities who own and operate broadband infrastructure in the state, not all of whom are required to submit data to the FCC.

Second, it changes the definition of "covered entity." Before, the term meant “a broadband service provider or other entity that owns or operates broadband infrastructure… in [WA] or offers their broadband infrastructure for sale or lease in the provision of broadband service.” It was modified to mean a broadband service provider or other entity that is required to submit a biannual broadband data collection filing to the FCC.

 AWC supported the original intent of the legislation, creating a state broadband map. However, as amended, AWC is neutral on the bill and hopes to see a statewide broadband map in the future. HB 1746 cleared the Senate Ways & Means Committee by a unanimous vote and was passed to the Senate Rules Committee.