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Fast, affordable Internet access for all.
Washington Legislature Considering Broadband Investment Plan From Governor; House Hearing Today
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Governor Jay Inslee started to promote his bill for better broadband earlier this year and, with any luck, Washington will have a solid foundation to expand broadband before the end of this year’s legislative session. SB 5511, a measure backed by the Governor, has sailed through the Senate, and has now appeared in the House. The bill establishes a State Broadband Office and earmarks funding for local broadband initiatives.
The bill is on the agenda for today's House Innovation, Technology & Economic Development Committee meeting at 10 a.m. PDT.
Difficult But Doable
In order to bring high-quality Internet access to all of Washington, millions and possibly billions of dollars of infrastructure investment are required. No one is certain how much completing the task will cost, and obtaining a better estimate will be one of the tasks of the State Broadband Office (SBO), which will be created by SB 5511. The bill allocates $1.2 million for the SBO.
Rural communities, economic development organizations, and tribes have all supported a measure to establish state investment in broadband infrastructure deployment across Washington. In January, Inslee met with leaders from communities across the state, including Colville Business Council member Susie Allen representing the Colville Tribes, to discuss the need for state funding:
“I have been working on broadband initiatives on our reservation for many years, but unfortunately, substantially, we still remain under-served and unserved, without broadband services,” said Allen. “The Colville Tribes have invested several millions of dollars to begin to meet this need, but we require assistance from the state and federal agencies to complete this work… The lack of broadband service creates not just an inconvenience, but poses real safety concerns throughout the reservation.”
The Colville Tribe has invested $6 million in order to connect the tribal government and under the terms of SB 5511, they would qualify to receive more funding in grants and low-interest loans.
The Tribe has plans for an addiction treatment center on Colville land because the nearest existing facility is about an hour away. In order for patients to receive treatment at the new facility, however, the Tribe needs a high-quality, reliable Internet connection for telehealth applications. SB 5511, if passed, would help fund the project.
Eligibility Abounds
The applicant pool for SB 5511 allows a wide array of eligible entities. In addition to tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, co-ops, public-private partnerships (“multiparty entities comprised of public entity members”), LLCs organizes specifically for broadband expansion, and private sector corporations are eligible to apply for funds.
In Washington, public utility districts (PUDs) have worked tirelessly to expand connectivity to rural areas via their fiber optic infrastructure. State law mandates that they limit service to wholesale service and there are places where residents and businesses have a choice of ISPs that deliver retail service via PUD fiber. What happens, however, if there is only one ISP offering retail Internet access to subscribers and something happens to that ISP?
SB 5511 provides authority to PUDs in Washington to operate temporary retail services via their infrastructure to end users if an ISP using the fiber ends service to subscribers. The PUD can only offer the service if there are no other ISPs willing to take on the subscribers and the PUD must try to find a replacement, but subscribers won’t be left without Internet access.
Port districts, which obtained more authority to work with private sector partners in last year’s legislative session, are granted more discretion in SB 5511. Last year, HB 2664 removed a requirement that only “rural” ports could use their fiber infrastructure for public-private partnerships outside of their port district. With SB 5511, port districts can also acquire and operate telecommunications facilities outside of their districts in order to provide wholesale service. The added authority can contribute to expansion of service in rural areas.
PUDs and port districts have proven their ability to effectively bring broadband infrastructure to unserved and underserved Washingtonians. With access to more funding and the knowledge developed by entities such as Chelan PUD, Grant PUD, and the Port of Ridgefield, rural communities where people still aren’t served have a better chance to be connected through expansion.
Decent Definition, Dilemma
The FCC defined “broadband” as 25 Megabits per second (Mbps) download and 3 Mbps back in 2015 and there are still some states that rely on an inferior 10 Mbps / 1 Mbps standard. Fortunately, Washington SB 5511’s authors defer to the FCC for the standard which all applicants’ projects must achieve for funding.
The bill prioritizes funding for unserved areas, so projects such as the Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) network in Anacortes would have less of a chance to obtain a grant or loan. As we learned from speaking to them earlier this year, funding streams that focus on unserved and underserved communities can often cut off communities that are investing in municipal networks. While places such as Anacortes are deploying fiber to stimulate economic development, improve services and prices, and to have more reliable connectivity, the fact that DSL or cable Internet access is available in the city labels them as “served.”
Not A Large Pot
The Governor has proposed $25 million toward infrastructure projects over the first five-year period but as the SBO continues to do its work and determine the actual financial need to deploy statewide broadband access, that figure may grow.
Applicants are expected to match grant awards, with exceptions for certain tribal and rural projects. There is also a cap of $2 million per project award and additional exceptions apply if a project has already been developed with significant local investment from a tribe or if a project is “remotely located.”
Read more details about the specific funding requirements from the Bill Analysis for the House Innovation, Technology & Economic Development Committee (2nd substitute bill).
Where it Stands
The Second Substitute version of the bill is on the agenda for the House Innovation, Technology & Economic Development Committee for today, March 19th at 10 a.m. PDT. After passing through Ways & Means and Environment, Energy & Technology in the Senate, the full body passed it 47 - 0.
If you’re a Washington resident and interested in seeing this bill continue forward, contact your Representative and ask them to sign on or to vote to pass it when it comes before them.
Read the bill in its current version.
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