Washington's Internet for All — Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO) — Dave Pringle, Legislative and Policy Director (06/24/25)

Summary

A slide presentation titled Washington's Internet for All from the Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO) of the Washington State Department of Commerce, dated 06/24/25 and presented by its legislative and policy director. It describes the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD), which it says provides over $42 billion nationwide, with Washington to receive more than $1.2 billion. The slides report 307 applications in Round 1, which closed on Jan. 31, 2025, and 202 applications in Round 2, which closed on May 16, 2025. They list elements removed by updated federal BEAD guidance, state that all previous provisional awards from Round 1&2 are canceled, and outline an expedited application round with a final proposal due to NTIA September 4. A closing slide describes WSBO's role under RCW 43.330.532.

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Full text

Washington’s
Internet for All
Washington State Broadband Office
(WSBO)
Dave Pringle
LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY DIRECTOR


06/24/25

                                    v1.5
        We strengthen communities


HOUSING AND                    INFRASTRUCTURE AND   SMALL BUSINESS
HOMELESSNESS                   BROADBAND            ASSISTANCE          ENERGY




PLANNING AND TECH                                   CRIME VICTIMS AND   ECONOMIC
ASSISTANCE                     COMMUNITY SERVICES   PUBLIC SAFETY       DEVELOPMENT


       WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                        2
What is BEAD?
• Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD)
     • National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)

• The BEAD program is working to get all Americans online by
  funding partnerships to build infrastructure where needed and
  increase high-speed internet adoption.
     • The federal program provides over $42 billion for infrastructure
       planning and implementation nationwide.
     • Washington will receive more than $1.2 billion in funding.



WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                    3
Who does BEAD serve?
• The BEAD program is open to cooperatives, nonprofit
  organizations, public-private partnerships, private companies,
  public or private utilities, public utility districts, and local and
  tribal governments.
• Projects must serve areas identified and approved through the
  federal BEAD process.
• Commerce posted BEAD construction project area maps that
  detail unserved and underserved locations across the state
  eligible for BEAD funding.


WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                  4
Where are we in the BEAD process?
• Washington Round 1 BEAD Application closed on Jan. 31, 2025
     • 307 applications received
     • 77% of BEAD-eligible locations received at least one bid, representing 79% of Broadband Service
       Locations (BSLs)
     • 49% of BEAD-eligible locations received two or more bids
• Washington Round 2 BEAD Application closed on May 16, 2025
     • 202 applications received
     • 70% of BEAD-eligible project areas received at least one bid, representing 70% of Broadband
       Service Locations (BSLs)
     • 32% of BEAD-eligible project areas received two or more bids
     • Four counties did not receive an application in Round 2 including: Grant, Grays Harbor, Wahkiakum
       and Yakima.
• WSBO planned final Round 3 delayed anticipating new federal guidance


WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                                                    5
Updated federal BEAD guidance - removes
previous program elements
• Technology Neutrality – removes fiber preference
• Labor, Employment and Workforce Requirements – no longer
  required
• Climate Change Resilience Analysis – no longer required
• Open Access/ Net Neutrality – no longer required
• Local Coordination/Stakeholder Engagement – no longer required,
  but already completed in Washington
• Non-Traditional Broadband Providers - preference no longer given
     • municipalities are an example of a non-traditional provider
• Low-Cost Service Plans – no longer required

WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                              6
Updated federal BEAD guidance (cont.)
• Community Anchor Institution (CAI) definition narrowed to statutory
  definition in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
• Non-Deployment Funding – all non-deployment approvals rescinded
     • No impact to Washington as all funding is dedicated to infrastructure
• NEPA Permitting Guidance – Expedited federal permitting process,
  federal approval within two weeks
• Unlicensed Fixed Wireless Providers (UFWP) — Now an eligible
  subgrantee
• View the complete notice


WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                        7
Expedited BEAD Application
• WSBO hosted a webinar on June 18 to explain how the federal
  changes will impact Washington’s process
     • Continue to connect through July office hours and applicant support
• All previous provisional awards from Round 1&2 are canceled
• New Application Round Requirements
     • “Benefit of the Bargain” – 30-day window, planned to open first week of
       July pending grant application finalization
• Applicants may choose to have their previous proposal entered
  but also adapt it to reflect new federal policies


WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                          8
Expedited BEAD Review
• All project areas are available for application
• Direct negotiating may still be needed if a county doesn’t
  receive an application
• Final proposal due to NTIA for review September 4
• Federal review and approval to occur 90 days following receipt
  of final proposal




WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                            9
WSBO Director
• WSBO Director Aaron Wheeler’s last day will be June
  27
     • Wheeler will be pursuing his passion of IT and education
       with the Suquamish Tribe
     • Commerce released the news last week
• We anticipate naming an interim director soon while
  we begin the recruitment process for a permanent
  director.



WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                           10
WSBO’s Role
• In recognition that broadband access is critical to the residents
  of Washington, RCW 43.330.532 established the Washington
  State Broadband Office (WSBO) and tasked it with promoting
  access and achieving download/upload speed goals for
  residences, businesses and communities.

• WSBO’s mission is to enrich the lives of all Washington state
  residents and businesses by ensuring they have access to
  affordable, reliable, redundant and scalable/future proof
  broadband technologies ensuring the economic viability of both
  urban and rural Washington state today and into the future

WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                               11
Thank you!
Dave Pringle
LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY DIRECTOR

Dave.Pringle@commerce.wa.gov

360-918-6033
                                  www.commerce.wa.gov
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