Digital equity

AN ACT Relating to furthering digital equity and opportunity in 1
Washington state; amending RCW 43.330.532, 43.330.534, 43.330.536, 2
43.330.539, and 43.330.5395; reenacting and amending RCW 43.330.530; 3
adding new sections to chapter 43.06D RCW; creating a new section; 4
and recodifying RCW 43.330.539 and 43.330.5395. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:6
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature reaffirms the findings 7
made in section 102, chapter 265, Laws of 2022, in particular the 8
findings that access to the internet is essential to participating in 9
modern day society; the cost of being online continues to be 10
unaffordable for many people in both rural and urban areas; and that, 11
across the state, there is a lack of affordable plans, barriers to 12
enrolling in appropriate broadband plans, and barriers to fully 13
utilizing the opportunities that broadband offers.14
The legislature further reaffirms its intent to broaden access to 15
the internet, the appropriate devices, and the skills to operate 16
online safely and effectively so that all people in Washington can 17
fully participate in our society, democracy, and economy by expanding 18
assistance and support programs offered in the state.19
To support the state's efforts in providing access to the 20
internet and the skills to effectively and safely utilize it, the 21
H-0430.2
HOUSE BILL 1503
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Gregerson, Ryu, Ortiz-Self, Berry, Peterson, Reed,
Goodman, Ormsby, Parshley, Macri, Ramel, Hill, and Bergquist
Read first time 01/22/25. Referred to Committee on Technology,
Economic Development, & Veterans.
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legislature intends to support existing cross-agency collaboration, 1
in particular between the department of commerce and the office of 2
equity. The legislature intends to facilitate this collaboration, in 3
which the department of commerce has primary responsibility for 4
increasing access to broadband and related infrastructure, and the 5
office of equity has primary responsibility for increasing digital 6
equity by facilitating the provision of digital devices and services 7
to individuals and communities in Washington. 8
Sec. 2. RCW 43.330.530 and 2022 c 265 s 301 and 2022 c 237 s 2 9
are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:10
The definitions in this section apply throughout this section and 11
RCW 43.330.532 through 43.330.538, 43.330.412, and 43.330.5393((, and 12
43.330.5395)) unless the context clearly requires otherwise.13
(1)(a) "Advanced telecommunications capability" means, without 14
regard to any transmission media or technology, high-speed, switched, 15
broadband telecommunications capability that enables users to 16
originate and receive high quality voice, data, graphics, and video 17
telecommunications using any technology. 18
(b) "Advanced telecommunications capability" does not include 19
access to a technology that delivers transmission speeds below the 20
minimum download and upload speeds provided in the definition of 21
broadband in this section. 22
(2) "Aging individual" means an individual 55 years of age or 23
older. 24
(3) "Board" means the public works board established in RCW 25
43.155.030. 26
(4) "Broadband" or "broadband service" means any service 27
providing advanced telecommunications capability and internet access 28
with transmission speeds that, at a minimum, provide 100 megabits per 29
second download and 20 megabits per second upload.30
(5) "Broadband adoption" means the process by which an individual 31
obtains daily access to and the ability to use the internet:32
(a) At a speed, quality, price, and capacity necessary for the 33
individual to accomplish common tasks, such that the access qualifies 34
as an advanced telecommunications capability; 35
(b) Providing individuals with the digital skills necessary to 36
participate fully and safely online; 37
(c) On a device connected to the internet and other advanced 38
telecommunications services via a secure and convenient network, with 39
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associated end-user broadband infrastructure equipment such as wifi 1
mesh router or repeaters to enable the device to adequately use the 2
internet network; and 3
(d) With technical support and digital navigation assistance to 4
enable continuity of service and equipment use and utilization.5
(6) "Broadband infrastructure" means networks of deployed 6
telecommunications equipment and technologies necessary to provide 7
high-speed internet access and other advanced telecommunications 8
services to end users. 9
(7) "Community anchor institution" means a public school, a 10
public housing authority, a library, a medical or health care 11
provider, a community college or other institution of higher 12
education, a state library agency, or other nonprofit or governmental 13
community support organization for the purposes of broadband 14
connectivity or facilitating use of broadband service by underserved 15
populations.16
(8) "Department" means the department of commerce.17
(((8))) (9) "Digital equity" means the condition in which 18
individuals and communities in Washington have the information 19
technology capacity that is needed for full participation in society , 20
democracy, and the economy. 21
(((9))) (10)(a) "Digital inclusion" means the activities that are 22
necessary to ensure that all individuals in Washington have access 23
to, and the use of, affordable information and communication 24
technologies including, but not limited to: 25
(i) Reliable broadband internet service; 26
(ii) Internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user; 27
and 28
(iii) Applications and online content designed to enable and 29
encourage self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration.30
(b) "Digital inclusion" also includes obtaining access to digital 31
literacy training, the provision of quality technical support, and 32
obtaining basic awareness of measures to ensure online privacy and 33
cybersecurity. 34
(((10))) (11) "Digital literacy" means the skills associated with 35
using technology to enable users to use information and 36
communications technologies to find, evaluate, organize, create, and 37
communicate information. 38
(((11))) (12) "Last mile infrastructure" means broadband 39
infrastructure that serves as the final connection from a broadband 40
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service provider's network to the end-use customer's on-premises 1
telecommunications equipment. 2
(((12))) (13) "Local government" includes cities, towns, 3
counties, municipal corporations, public port districts, public 4
utility districts, quasi-municipal corporations, special purpose 5
districts, and multiparty entities comprised of public entity 6
members. 7
(((13))) (14) "Low-income" means households ((as defined by the 8
department of social and health services, provided that the 9
definition may not exceed the higher of 80 percent of area median 10
household income or )) with a household income that does not exceed 11
200 percent of the federal poverty level or that does not exceed the 12
self-sufficiency standard as determined by the University of 13
Washington's self-sufficiency calculator. 14
(((14))) (15) "Middle mile infrastructure" means broadband 15
infrastructure that links a broadband service provider's core network 16
infrastructure to last mile infrastructure. 17
(((15))) (16) "Office" means the governor's statewide broadband 18
office established in RCW 43.330.532. 19
(((16))) (17) "Tribe" means any federally recognized Indian tribe 20
whose traditional lands and territories included parts of Washington.21
(((17))) (18) "Underserved population" means any of the 22
following: 23
(a) Individuals who live in low-income households;24
(b) Aging individuals; 25
(c) Incarcerated individuals; 26
(d) Veterans; 27
(e) Individuals with disabilities; 28
(f) Individuals with a language barrier, including individuals 29
((who are)) with limited English ((learners)) proficiency or who have 30
low levels of literacy; 31
(g) Individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority 32
group; 33
(h) Individuals who primarily reside in a rural area;34
(i) ((Children and youth)) Dependents in foster care; or35
(j) Individuals experiencing housing instability.36
(((18))) (19) "Unserved areas" means areas of Washington in which 37
households and businesses lack access to adequate, reliable, and 38
affordable broadband service, as defined by the office.39
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Sec. 3. RCW 43.330.532 and 2022 c 265 s 302 are each amended to 1
read as follows: 2
(1) The governor's statewide broadband office is established. The 3
director of the office must be appointed by the governor. The office 4
may employ staff necessary to carry out the office's duties as 5
prescribed by chapter 365, Laws of 2019, subject to the availability 6
of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose. 7
(2) The purpose of the office is to encourage, foster, develop, 8
and improve affordable, quality broadband , broadband adoption, and 9
digital equity within the state in order to: 10
(a) Drive job creation, promote innovation, improve economic 11
vitality, and expand markets for Washington businesses;12
(b) Serve the ongoing and growing needs of Washington's education 13
systems, health care systems, public safety systems, transportation 14
systems, industries and business, governmental operations, and 15
citizens; and 16
(c) Improve broadband accessibility and adoption for unserved and 17
underserved communities and populations. 18
Sec. 4. RCW 43.330.534 and 2024 c 54 s 53 are each amended to 19
read as follows: 20
(1) The office has the power and duty to: 21
(a) Serve as the central broadband planning body for the state of 22
Washington; 23
(b) Coordinate with relevant state agencies, local governments, 24
tribes, public and private entities, public housing agencies, 25
community anchor institutions, nonprofit organizations, and consumer-26
owned and investor-owned utilities to develop strategies and plans 27
promoting deployment of broadband infrastructure and greater 28
broadband access and broadband adoption, while protecting proprietary 29
information; 30
(c) Review existing broadband initiatives, policies, and public 31
and private investments; 32
(d) Develop, recommend, and implement a statewide plan to 33
encourage cost-effective broadband access and to make recommendations 34
for increased usage, particularly in rural and other unserved areas;35
(e) Update the state's broadband goals and definitions for 36
broadband service in unserved areas as technology advances, except 37
that the state's definition for broadband service may not be actual 38
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speeds less than ((twenty-five)) 100 megabits per second download and 1
((three)) 20 megabits per second upload; and 2
(f) Encourage public-private partnerships to increase deployment 3
and adoption of broadband services and applications.4
(2) When developing plans or strategies for broadband deployment, 5
the office must consider: 6
(a) Partnerships between communities, tribes, nonprofit 7
organizations, local governments, consumer-owned and investor-owned 8
utilities, and public and private entities; 9
(b) Funding opportunities that provide for the coordination of 10
public, private, state, and federal funds for the purposes of making 11
broadband infrastructure or broadband services available to rural and 12
unserved areas of the state; 13
(c) Barriers to the deployment, adoption, and utilization of 14
broadband service, including affordability of service and project 15
coordination logistics; and 16
(d) Requiring minimum broadband service of ((twenty-five)) 100 17
megabits per second download and ((three)) 20 megabits per second 18
upload speed, that is scalable to faster service. 19
(3) The office may assist applicants for the grant and loan 20
program created in RCW 43.155.160, the digital equity opportunity 21
program created in RCW 43.330.412, and the digital equity planning 22
grant program created in RCW 43.330.5393 with seeking federal funding 23
or matching grants and other grant opportunities for deploying or 24
increasing adoption of broadband services. 25
(4) The office may take all appropriate steps to seek and apply 26
for federal funds for which the office is eligible, and other grants, 27
and accept donations, and must deposit these funds in the statewide 28
broadband account created in RCW 43.155.165. 29
(5) ((The office shall coordinate an outreach effort to hard-to-30
reach communities and low-income communities across the state to 31
provide information about broadband programs available to consumers 32
of these communities. The outreach effort must include, but is not 33
limited to, providing information to applicable communities about the 34
federal lifeline program and other low-income broadband benefit 35
programs. The outreach effort must be reviewed by the office of 36
equity annually. The office may contract with other public or private 37
entities to conduct outreach to communities as provided under this 38
subsection.39
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(6))) In carrying out its purpose, the office ((may)) must 1
collaborate with federally recognized tribes and all relevant state 2
agencies including the utilities and transportation commission, 3
Washington technology solutions, the department of commerce, the 4
community economic revitalization board, the department of 5
transportation, the public works board, the state librarian, ((and 6
all other relevant state agencies )) the Washington state office of 7
equity, and the office of the superintendent of public instruction. 8
As a part of this collaboration, the office must provide data to the 9
Washington state office of equity regarding broadband adoption and 10
digital equity programs maintained by the office to assist the 11
Washington state office of equity in monitoring the implementation of 12
a state digital equity plan in accordance with RCW 43.330.539 (as 13
recodified by this act). 14
Sec. 5. RCW 43.330.536 and 2019 c 365 s 5 are each amended to 15
read as follows: 16
It is a goal of the state of Washington that: 17
(1) ((By 2024, all Washington businesses and residences have 18
access to high-speed broadband that provides minimum download speeds 19
of at least twenty-five megabits per second and minimum upload speeds 20
of at least three megabits per second;21
(2) By 2026, all Washington communities have access to at least 22
one gigabit per second symmetrical broadband service at anchor 23
institutions like schools, hospitals, libraries, and government 24
buildings; and25
(3) By 2028, all Washington businesses and residences have access 26
to at least one provider of broadband with download speeds of at 27
least one hundred fifty megabits per second and upload speeds of at 28
least one hundred fifty megabits per second )) By 2028, all Washington 29
businesses, residences, and community anchor institutions have access 30
to broadband service of 150 megabits per second download and 20 31
megabits per second upload in accordance with RCW 43.330.530;32
(2) By 2030, Washington businesses, residences, and community 33
anchor institutions have access to at least one gigabit per second 34
download speed paired with 500 megabits per second upload speed for 35
long-term fixed broadband in the state; and36
(3) By 2032, broadband goals for the state of Washington are 37
reviewed and updated with input provided by entities, such as the 38
digital equity forum, communities, tribes, nonprofit organizations, 39
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local governments, consumer-owned and investor-owned utilities, 1
relevant state agencies, and public and private entities.2
Sec. 6. RCW 43.330.539 and 2022 c 265 s 201 are each amended to 3
read as follows: 4
(1) The office is primarily responsible, in coordination with the 5
state broadband office, for encouraging, fostering, developing, and 6
improving digital equity by facilitating the provision of digital 7
devices and services to individuals and communities in Washington.8
(2) The office shall coordinate with the statewide broadband 9
office and the department of commerce for an outreach effort to hard-10
to-reach communities and low-income communities across the state to 11
provide information about broadband and digital equity programs 12
available to consumers of these communities and assist consumers in 13
enrolling in these programs. The outreach effort must include, but is 14
not limited to, providing information to applicable communities about 15
the federal lifeline program and other low-income broadband benefit 16
programs, and must facilitate relationship-building and the 17
communication of lived experience to amplify local efforts and 18
identify continuing needs. The office shall review the outreach 19
effort annually. The office shall coordinate with state boards and 20
commissions that support the participation of people from 21
underrepresented populations in policy-making processes, and may 22
otherwise coordinate or contract with other public or private 23
entities, including to conduct outreach to communities and assist 24
consumers in program enrollment as provided under this subsection.25
(3) The office, in consultation with the digital equity forum, 26
the utilities and transportation commission, ((and)) the statewide 27
broadband office, the department of social and health services , and 28
other relevant state agencies , must develop and monitor 29
implementation of a state digital equity plan. 30
(a) ((The office must seek any available federal funding for 31
purposes of developing and implementing the state digital equity 32
plan)) The development of the state digital equity plan must build 33
upon the progress made by the statewide broadband office in 34
developing a state digital equity plan. 35
(b) The state digital equity plan must include such elements as 36
the office determines are necessary to leverage federal funding.37
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(((2))) (4) In developing the plan, the office must identify 1
measurable objectives for documenting and promoting digital equity 2
among underserved communities located in the state.3
(((3))) (5)(a) By December 1, ((2023)) 2026, the office must 4
submit a report to the governor and the appropriate committees of the 5
legislature, including the following: 6
(((a))) (i) The digital equity plan described in subsection 7
(((1))) (3) of this section and measurable objectives described in 8
subsection (((2))) (4) of this section; 9
(((b))) (ii) A description of how the office collaborated with 10
the membership of the digital equity forum, state agencies, and key 11
((stakeholders)) partners to develop the plan including, but not 12
limited to, the following: 13
(((i))) (A) Community anchor institutions; 14
(((ii))) (B) Local governments; 15
(((iii))) (C) Local educational agencies; 16
(((iv))) (D) Entities that carry out workforce development 17
programs; and 18
(((v))) (E) Broadband service providers; 19
(((c))) (iii) A description of federal funding available to 20
advance digital equity in the state ((, including any available 21
information on the extent to which state residents have enrolled in 22
the affordable connectivity program through an approved provider; and23
(d)));24
(iv) An evaluation of existing state digital equity initiatives, 25
policies, programs, funding needs, and public and private 26
investments, including a recommended model for future infrastructure 27
and outreach investments; and28
(v) Recommendations of additional state law or policy that can be 29
targeted to help improve broadband adoption and affordability for 30
state residents. This may include recommendations of ongoing 31
subsidies that the state can provide to low-income individuals and 32
community anchor institutions, as well as identification of revenue 33
sources that other states or jurisdictions have developed to fund 34
such subsidies or discounted rates. 35
(((4) For the purpose of this section, "office" means the 36
statewide broadband office established in RCW 43.330.532)) (b) The 37
office shall review, update, and submit to the governor and the 38
appropriate committees of the legislature a revised state digital 39
equity plan every two years after its initial publication. The office 40
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shall submit to the governor and the appropriate committees of the 1
legislature an updated report that includes the topics in (a)(i) 2
through (v) of this subsection and subsection (6) of this section the 3
year following its submission of a revised state digital equity plan.4
(6) The office must make publicly available, on an ongoing basis, 5
an overview of the progress made in promoting digital equity among 6
underserved communities located in the state, according to the 7
measurable objectives identified in the digital equity plan. The 8
overview must include a description of the successes and remaining 9
challenges of promoting digital equity among specific types of 10
underserved populations. As part of this requirement, the office 11
shall have oversight over and direct future improvements as it 12
determines is necessary, to the public data resources maintained by 13
the statewide broadband office to track digital equity and the 14
digital divide. 15
Sec. 7. RCW 43.330.5395 and 2022 c 265 s 306 are each amended to 16
read as follows: 17
(1) The Washington digital equity forum is established for the 18
purpose of developing recommendations to advance digital 19
connectivity, broadband adoption, and digital equity in Washington 20
state ((and advising the statewide broadband office on the digital 21
equity opportunity program as provided under RCW 43.330.412 and the 22
digital equity planning grant program as provided under RCW 23
43.330.5393)). 24
(2) In developing its recommendations to advance digital 25
connectivity, broadband adoption, and digital equity, the forum must:26
(a) Develop goals that are consistent with the goals of the 27
governor's statewide broadband office, as provided in RCW 43.330.536, 28
and the office, as provided in RCW 43.06D.020; 29
(b) Strengthen public-private partnerships , cooperatives, and 30
other partnerships that promote digital connectivity, broadband 31
adoption, and digital equity; 32
(c) Solicit public input through public hearings or informational 33
sessions; 34
(d) Work to increase collaboration and communication between 35
local, state, and federal governments and agencies; and36
(e) Recommend opportunities for sustainable digital equity 37
funding, including reforms to current universal service mechanisms.38
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(3) The directors of the governor's statewide broadband office 1
and the ((Washington state)) office ((of equity)) are responsible for 2
appointing participating members of the digital equity forum and no 3
appointment may be made unless each director concurs in the 4
appointment. In making appointments, the directors must prioritize 5
appointees representing: 6
(a) Federally recognized tribes; 7
(b) State and local agencies involved in digital equity; and8
(c) Underserved and unserved communities, including historically 9
disadvantaged communities. 10
(4) A majority of the ((participating)) members appointed by the 11
directors ((must)) may appoint an administrative chair or cochairs 12
for the forum. 13
(5) In addition to members appointed by the directors, four 14
legislators may serve on the digital equity forum in an ex officio 15
capacity. Legislative participants must be appointed as follows:16
(a) The speaker of the house of representatives must appoint one 17
member from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of 18
representatives; and 19
(b) The president of the senate must appoint one member from each 20
of the two largest caucuses of the senate. 21
(6)(((a))) Funds appropriated to the forum may be used to 22
compensate, for any work done in connection with the forum, 23
additional persons who have lived experience navigating barriers to 24
digital connectivity and digital equity. 25
(((b) Each member of the digital equity forum shall serve without 26
compensation but may be reimbursed for travel expenses as authorized 27
in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.))28
(7) Staff for the digital equity forum must be provided by ((the 29
governor's statewide broadband office and )) the ((Washington state )) 30
office ((of equity)). The ((governor's statewide broadband office and 31
the Washington state )) office ((of equity are jointly )) is 32
responsible for transmitting the recommendations of the digital 33
equity forum to the legislature, consistent with RCW 43.01.036, by 34
October 28, 2025, and every odd-numbered year thereafter.35
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 43.06D 36
RCW to read as follows: 37
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The definitions in this section apply to RCW 43.330.539 (as 1
recodified by this act) and 43.330.5395 (as recodified by this act) 2
unless the context clearly requires otherwise. 3
(1) "Broadband," "broadband service," and "broadband adoption" 4
have the meanings defined in RCW 43.330.530. 5
(2) "Community anchor institution" has the meaning defined in RCW 6
43.330.530. 7
(3) "Digital equity" has the meaning defined in RCW 43.330.530.8
(4) "Local government" has the meaning defined in RCW 43.330.530.9
(5) "Low-income" has the meaning defined in RCW 43.330.530.10
(6) "Office" means the Washington state office of equity.11
(7) "Underserved population" has the meaning defined in RCW 12
43.330.530. 13
NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. RCW 43.330.539 and 43.330.5395 are each 14
recodified as sections in chapter 43.06D RCW.15
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