HB 1503 — Furthering digital equity and opportunity in Washington state.

H-1541.1H-0430.2 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1503 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans (originally sponsored by Representatives Gregerson, Ryu, Ortiz-Self, Berry, Peterson, Reed, Goodman, Ormsby, Parshley, Macri, Ramel, Hill, and Bergquist)Bergquist READRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/20/25.01/22/25.

Referred to Committee on Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans.

1 SHBHB 1503 legislature intends to support existing cross-agency collaboration, in particular between the department of commerce and the office of equity.

2 SHBHB 1503 associated end-user broadband infrastructure equipment such as wifi mesh router or repeaters to enable the device to adequately use the internet network;

3 SHBHB 1503 service provider's network to the end-use customer's on-premises telecommunications equipment.

4 SHBHB 1503 Sec.

5 SHBHB 1503 speeds less than ((twenty-five)) 100 megabits per second download and ((three)) 20 megabits per second upload;

6 SHBHB 1503 (6))) In carrying out its purpose, the office ((may)) must collaborate with federally recognized tribes and all relevant state agencies including the utilities and transportation commission, Washington technology solutions, the department of commerce, the community economic revitalization board, the department of transportation, the public works board, the state librarian, ((and all other relevant state agencies)) the Washington state office of equity, and the office of the superintendent of public instruction.

(1) By((By 2024, all Washington businesses and residences have access to high-speed broadband that provides minimum download speeds of at least twenty-five megabits per second and minimum upload speeds of at least three megabits per second;

((and))and (3) By 2028, all Washington businesses and residences have access to at least one provider of broadband with download speeds of at least one hundred fifty megabits per second and upload speeds of at least one hundred fifty megabits per second)) By 2028, all Washington businesses, residences, and community anchor institutions have access to broadband service of 150 megabits per second ;download and 20 megabits per second upload in accordance with RCW 43.330.530;

and(2) (4) By 2028,2030, broadband goals for the state of Washington arebusinesses, reviewedresidences, and updatedcommunity withanchor inputinstitutions providedhave byaccess entities,to suchat asleast theone digitalgigabit equityper forum,second communities,download tribes,speed nonprofitpaired organizations,with local500 governments,megabits consumer-ownedper andsecond investor-ownedupload utilities,speed relevantfor statelong-term agencies,fixed andbroadband publicin andthe privatestate; entities.

and (3) By 2032, broadband goals for the state of Washington are reviewed and updated with input provided by entities, such as the digital equity forum, communities, tribes, nonprofit organizations, p.

7 HB 1503 local governments, consumer-owned and investor-owned utilities, relevant state agencies, and public and private entities.

(1) The office is primarily responsible, in coordination with the state broadband office, for encouraging, fostering, developing, and p.improving digital equity by facilitating the provision of digital devices and services to individuals and communities in Washington.

7(2) SHBThe 1503office improvingshall digitalcoordinate equitywith bythe facilitatingstatewide broadband office and the provisiondepartment of digitalcommerce devicesfor an outreach effort to hard- to-reach communities and serviceslow-income communities across the state to individualsprovide information about broadband and digital equity programs available to consumers of these communities and assist consumers in Washington.enrolling in these programs.

(2) The office shall coordinate with the statewide broadband office and the department of commerce for an outreach effort to unserved and underserved communities and populations across the state to provide information about broadband and digital equity programs available to consumers of these communities and assist consumers in enrolling in these programs.

(((2)))p. (4) In developing the plan, the office must identify measurable objectives for documenting and promoting digital equity among underserved communities located in the state.

8 HB 1503 (((2))) (4) In developing the plan, the office must identify measurable objectives for documenting and promoting digital equity among underserved communities located in the state.

p.(((b))) (ii) A description of how the office collaborated with the membership of the digital equity forum, state agencies, and key ((stakeholders)) partners to develop the plan including, but not limited to, the following:

8 SHB 1503 (((b))) (ii) A description of how the office collaborated with the membership of the digital equity forum, state agencies, and key ((stakeholders)) partners to develop the plan including, but not limited to, the following:

The office shallp. submit to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature an updated report that includes the topics in (a)(i) through (v) of this subsection and subsection (6) of this section the year following its submission of a revised state digital equity plan.

9 HB 1503 shall submit to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature an updated report that includes the topics in (a)(i) through (v) of this subsection and subsection (6) of this section the year following its submission of a revised state digital equity plan.

The overview must include a description of the successes and remaining p.challenges of promoting digital equity among specific types of underserved populations.

9 SHB 1503 challenges of promoting digital equity among specific types of underserved populations.

(3)p. The directors of the governor's statewide broadband office and the ((Washington state)) office ((of equity)) are responsible for appointing participating members of the digital equity forum and no appointment may be made unless each director concurs in the appointment.

10 HB 1503 (3) The directors of the governor's statewide broadband office and the ((Washington state)) office ((of equity)) are responsible for appointing participating members of the digital equity forum and no appointment may be made unless each director concurs in the appointment.

p.(4) A majority of the ((participating)) members appointed by the directors ((must)) may appoint an administrative chair or cochairs for the forum.

10 SHB 1503 (4) A majority of the ((participating)) members appointed by the directors ((must)) may appoint an administrative chair or cochairs for the forum.

Thep. definitions in this section apply to RCW 43.330.539 (as recodified by this act) and 43.330.5395 (as recodified by this act) unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

11 HB 1503 The definitions in this section apply to RCW 43.330.539 (as recodified by this act) and 43.330.5395 (as recodified by this act) unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

p.(7) "Underserved population" has the meaning defined in RCW 43.330.530.

11 SHB 1503 (7) "Underserved population" has the meaning defined in RCW 43.330.530.

12 SHBHB 1503