This year’s broadband mapping proposal recently took a significant turn on its path through the Legislature, with a new intent section and a shift in focus for the Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO).
HB 1746 was heard in the Senate last week where a striking amendment (removing everything after the title and inserting a whole new bill)
was introduced and approved. For background on the legislation’s journey up to this point, read AWC’s summaries of the bill as introduced and the amended version.
The new intent section points to the policy goal of incentivizing “broader participation by those who own and operate broadband infrastructure in the state” to provide “key data to federal and state efforts.” According to the amending
language, more accurate and transparent federal broadband availability maps will create “market pressures on internet providers to improve their coverage” and assist policymakers in making more accurate “investments to expand
broadband to… underserved areas” in the state.
The striker makes several changes to the legislation, including the following:
- WSBO is authorized, rather than required, to develop and maintain a state broadband map, subject to appropriations.
- On the other hand, WSBO must make certain efforts to improve federal mapping, including maintaining a license from the FCC for broadband deployment data and informing covered entities that they must submit mapping data to the FCC.
- An existing provider near a proposed project area may submit an objection to the project to WSBO if it has submitted specified broadband data to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), rather than to WSBO, within the previous year.
- The Public Works Board (PWB) may prioritize applications that have submitted broadband mapping data to the FCC, rather than to the WSBO.
- Commerce, including WSBO, is no longer the single eligible entity in the state to engage in federal broadband mapping activities.
- WSBO is encouraged, rather than required, to use information collected to submit bulk challenges to the national broadband map.
- Covered entities are not required by the bill to submit data concerning broadband deployment to WSBO.
- Expenditures in the Statewide Broadband Account may also be used to improve accuracy of the national broadband map and submit challenges to the federal map.
AWC is supportive of efforts to improve and expand access to high speed internet in Washington.
HB 1746 passed out of the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee last week as amended by a unanimous vote. It moves now to the Senate Rules Committee.