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House Bill Analysis — SB 5715, Modifying the Definition of Broadband (Community & Economic Development Committee)

Summary

This is a House of Representatives Office of Program Research bill analysis for the Community & Economic Development Committee on SB 5715, with a hearing date of 2/22/22 and staff Cassie Jones. The sponsors are Senators Wellman, Sheldon, Randall and Wilson, C. The bill redefines broadband service to require speeds of at least 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload instead of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. It also removes the language in the definition of unserved areas that kept the state's definition from falling below 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. Appropriation is listed as None, no fiscal note was requested, and the bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment.

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“House Bill Analysis — SB 5715, Modifying the Definition of Broadband (Community & Economic Development Committee).” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2022-02-22-a29911-d243628-bill-analysis-6139ad834b/, SHA-256 221ae6c8a75dd48b87c018687c699438d0deeabf14165dd28850416e999a1be8.

Full text

Washington State                 BILL
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research  ANALYSIS
Community & Economic Development
Committee
                                         SB 5715
Brief Description: Modifying the definition of broadband or broadband service.

Sponsors: Senators Wellman, Sheldon, Randall and Wilson, C..


                                     Brief Summary of Bill
          • Redefines broadband service to mean any service providing advanced
            telecommunications capability and Internet access with transmission
            speeds that, at a minimum, provide 100 megabits per second (Mbps)
            download and 20 Mbps upload instead of 25 Mbps download and 3
            Mbps upload.
          • Removes the specification in the definition of unserved areas that the
            state's definition of broadband service may not be actual speeds of less
            than 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload.


Hearing Date: 2/22/22

Staff: Cassie Jones (786-7303).

Background:

In 2019, the Governor's Statewide Broadband Office (SBO) was established to encourage, foster,
develop, and improve affordable, quality broadband within the state to promote innovation, serve
the growing needs of Washington's education, healthcare, and public safety systems, industries
and business, governmental operations, and citizens, and improve broadband accessibility for
unserved communities.




     This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative
     members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it
     constitute a statement of legislative intent.

House Bill Analysis                             -1-                                             SB 5715
"Broadband" or "broadband service" means any service providing advanced telecommunications
capability and Internet access with transmission speeds that, at a minimum, provide 25 megabits
per second (Mbps) download and 3 Mbps upload.

"Unserved areas" means areas of Washington in which households and businesses lack access to
broadband service, as defined by the SBO, except that the state's definition for broadband service
may not be actual speeds less than 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload.


Summary of Bill:

"Broadband" or "broadband service" is redefined to mean any service providing advanced
telecommunications capability and Internet access with transmission speeds that, at a minimum,
provide 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload instead of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps
upload.

"Unserved areas" is redefined to mean areas of Washington in which households and businesses
lack access to broadband service, as defined by the SBO, without the specification that the state's
definition of broadband service may not be actual speeds less than 25 Mbps download and 3
Mbps upload.


Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is
passed.




House Bill Analysis                            -2-                                         SB 5715

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