top of page

News

New laws take effect in Washington State aimed at bridging the digital divide



Legislation will enable public entities, including PUDs, to help bridge the digital divide in Washington State

Olympia – Two new laws aimed at helping bridge the digital divide in Washington State will take effect July 25, 2021. The legislation passed in the 2021 legislative session and signed into law will enable public entities, including not-for-profit, community-owned public utility districts to provide retail broadband service to end-users, creating another pathway to connect Washington citizens and communities to essential broadband service.

The Washington PUD Association supported the legislation (House Bill 1336 and Senate Bill 5383) in the 2021 legislative session. “Broadband service is no longer a luxury. This was demonstrated by the pandemic when our ability to educate our children, connect with services including healthcare, and telecommute was dependent on broadband service,” said George Caan, Executive Director of the Washington PUD Association. “Unfortunately, there are areas of the state that do not have access to broadband service that is necessary to meet citizens’ needs. The new laws will enable public entities including Public Utility Districts, to respond to the broadband needs of the communities they serve.”

“Washington State will finally allow PUDs to provide broadband directly to the public—just like electricity or water,” said Rep. Drew Hansen (D-Bainbridge Island), the sponsor of the Public Broadband Act (HB1336). “The PUDs were critical to enacting my Public Broadband Act, and I look forward to working with PUDs across the state to bring public broadband to more people.”

The new laws expand existing PUD broadband authority. Since 2000, PUDs have had the authority to offer wholesale telecommunications services (RCW 54.16.330). Since then, PUDs have invested over $509 million in broadband infrastructure. With wholesale telecommunications authority, PUDs were able to build the pipeline to help connect communities, with customers relying on private providers for end-use service. If customers did not have a private provider that could meet their needs, their options were limited or non-existent. The legislation creates a public option. Of the Association’s 27 member PUDs, 15 PUDs currently provide wholesale telecommunications services.

“Under the new law, individual PUDs will consider the needs of their customers when deciding whether to provide retail tele