WA legislature unanimously passes high speed Internet access proposal

The Washington State legislature unanimously passed a bill to increase high speed Internet access across the state on March 12. The final bill combined aspects of bills sponsored by Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D – Seattle) and Rep. Zack Hudgins (D – Tukwila) and will create a strategy to achieve high speed Internet access across the state, especially the underserved rural areas.

"Gaining access to broadband can make a huge difference in expanding economic opportunities and creating jobs, particularly for those not having it now, such as a small winemaker or an orchard worker in rural Eastern Washington, a student living on a small island in the San Juans, and a resident in a low-income urban area in Puget Sound," said state Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles.

CWA was instrumental in the development of the bill along with the Progressive States Network. State Representative Zack Hudgins, the bill’s co-sponsor and a member of CWA said, "Rarely do we have the opportunity to change lives as rapidly and dramatically as we do with increased access to high-speed internet connections" citing the increases in educational and economic-development opportunities, as well as better public safety measures and improved health care.

The bill also creates the Community Technology Opportunity Program, which is designed to provide low-income, disabled, and underserved people access to high speed Internet technologies and training. This bill is a major push for high speed internet access all over the state of Washington and should serve as a model for other states as a way to increase their own high speed Internet access.

"It’s especially exciting to have this bill pass, as Washington had been the first state in the country to provide broadband connectivity to schools and colleges with creation of the K-20 Network back in 1995. We are now poised once again to be among the leading states providing full access to broadband deployment." said Senator Kohl-Welles.

E2SB 6438 now only awaits the governor’s signature to be enacted into law. If you live in Washington, do your part by asking her to sign it over at SpeedMattersWashington.org.

Legislature plans for high-speed internet deployment across state (Washington House Democrats)

Speed Matters Washington (SpeedMattersWashington.org)

E2SB 6438 (Washington Legislature)