by
<a href="mailto:candiceb@awcnet.org">Candice Bock</a>, <a href="mailto:brandona@awcnet.org">Brandon Anderson</a> | Mar 01, 2019
<strong><a target="_blank" href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1498&Initiative=false&Year=2019" target="_blank">HB 1498</a></strong> and <strong><a target="_blank" href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5511&Chamber=Senate&Year=2019">SB 5511</a></strong>, the Governor-request bills creating a statewide broadband office and new funding program, were advanced out of the House and Senate fiscal committees last week.
HB 1498 and SB 5511, the Governor-request bills creating a statewide broadband office and new funding program, were advanced out of the House and Senate fiscal committees last week. A series of technical changes were made to both bills before they were voted out of the fiscal committees.
If passed, the legislation would create a $25 million competitive grant and loan program managed by the Public Works Board to help promote expanded broadband access. The Governor’s proposed budget included diverting $7.5 million from the Public Works Trust Fund (PWTF) to the new broadband grants and loans. AWC opposes the diversion of resources from the Public Works Assistance Account to pay for the new programs.
AWC does support the bills and creation of the statewide broadband office and funding program, so long as it doesn’t divert funding from other infrastructure funding programs.