BILL REQ. #:  H-2309.2 

READ FIRST TIME 03/03/09.   

     AN ACT Relating to authorizing the department of information services to engage in high-speed internet activities; amending RCW 43.105.350; and adding new sections to chapter 43.105 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 43.105 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department is designated as an eligible entity for purposes of the broadband data improvement act, P.L. 110-385.
     (2) The department is authorized to receive federal funds made available for broadband or high-speed internet purposes according to the provisions of the acts of congress making the funds available. Funds must be expended in accordance with federal and state law and any conditions contingent in the grant of those funds.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.105 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Subject to the availability of federal or state funding appropriated for this specific purpose, the department shall implement a high-speed internet deployment and adoption strategy on behalf of the state, beginning in areas with an uptake rate for high-speed internet below the state median.
     (2) Consistent with RCW 43.105.350, the department may accept aggregated data from providers of telecommunications or high-speed internet infrastructure for the purposes of creating a geographic information system map of the current state of high-speed internet infrastructure and service availability and adoption.
     (3) The department may solicit and receive gifts, grants, and bequests for high-speed internet deployment and adoption efforts.
     (4) The department may create an interactive web site to allow residents to self-report whether high-speed internet is available at their home or residence and at what speed.
     (5) The department may conduct a detailed survey of all high-speed internet infrastructure owned or leased by state agencies and use this information to create a geographic information system map.
     (6) The department may adopt rules as necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

Sec. 3   RCW 43.105.350 and 2008 c 262 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) For purposes of ((compliance with section 2, chapter 262, Laws of 2008 or)) any ((subsequent)) state high-speed internet deployment and adoption initiative, the department of information services, the department of community, trade, and economic development, the utilities and transportation commission, and any other government agent or agency shall not ((gather or request any information related to high-speed internet infrastructure or service from)) require providers of telecommunications or high-speed internet services ((that is)) to provide information related to high-speed internet infrastructure or service that may be classified by the provider as proprietary or competitively sensitive, but may accept, store, and use such information if voluntarily offered by the provider or if provided by the federal government to facilitate implementation of a high-speed internet deployment and adoption initiative.
     (2) Nothing in this section may be construed as limiting the authority of a state agency or local government to gather or request information from providers of telecommunications or high-speed internet services for other purposes pursuant to its statutory authority.