1336-S AMH KRAF H1078.2

By Representative Kraft

WITHDRAWN 02/23/2021

On page 2, line 23, after "limits" insert ", in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of this act,"

On page 4, after line 35, insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 54.16 RCW to read as follows:

(1) A public utility district may provide retail telecommunications services only in unserved areas but may expand into underserved areas after all unserved areas in the state of Washington become served.

(2) A public utility district may not provide retail telecommunications services to end users where another provider already provides service or has begun construction to provide service to the same end users.

(3) The authority granted to public utility districts in RCW 54.16.330 to provide retail telecommunications services expires July 1, 2031.

(4) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(a) "Unserved areas" has the same meaning as in RCW 43.330.530.

(b) "Underserved areas" means an area of Washington where there is only one provider of retail telecommunications services providing service with speeds at or less than 25 megabits per second download and three megabits per second upload."

Renumber the remaining sections consecutively, correct any internal references accordingly, and correct the title.

Beginning on page 6, line 28, strike all of sections 5, 6, and 7

Renumber the remaining sections consecutively, correct any internal references accordingly, and correct the title.

On page 8, line 16, after "limits" insert ", in accordance with the provisions of section 10 of this act,"

On page 10, after line 5, insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. A new section is added to chapter 53.08 RCW to read as follows:

(1) A port district may provide retail telecommunications services only in unserved areas but may expand into underserved areas after all unserved areas in the state of Washington become served.

(2) A port district may not provide retail telecommunications services to end users where another provider already provides service or has begun construction to provide service to the same end users.

(3) The authority granted to port districts in RCW 53.08.370 to provide retail telecommunications services expires July 1, 2031.

(4) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(a) "Unserved areas" has the same meaning as in RCW 43.330.530.

Renumber the remaining sections consecutively, correct any internal references accordingly, and correct the title.

On page 10, after line 23, insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. (1) By December 1, 2031, the joint legislative audit and review committee must analyze the 10-year period during which public utility districts and port districts were granted the authority to provide retail telecommunications services.

(2) The review must include, at a minimum, the following components:

(a) An analysis of the extent to which public utility districts and port districts completed the provision of retail telecommunications services to unserved and underserved areas; and

(b) A report on the percentage of households in previously unserved and underserved areas that became served by public utility districts and port districts during the ten years after retail authority was granted."

Renumber the remaining sections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.

EFFECT: (1) Provides that public utility districts and port districts may only provide retail telecommunications services to unserved areas but may expand to underserved areas once all unserved areas in the state of Washington become served.

(2) Prohibits public utility districts and port districts from providing retail telecommunications services in an area where another provider is providing services or has begun construction to provide services.

(3) Expires the authority of public utility districts and port districts to provide retail telecommunications services on July 1, 2031.

(4) Eliminates the authority for second-class cities, towns, and counties to provide retail telecommunications services.

(5) Requires the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee to analyze the ten years during which public utility districts and port districts were granted retail authority and report on the extent to which they completed service to unserved and underserved areas and the percentage of previously unserved and underserved households that became served by public utility districts and port districts during the ten years after retail authority was granted.