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2008 Senate Bill 6438: Creating a statewide high-speed internet effort
Introduced by Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (Seattle) (D) on January 16, 2008
Requires appropriate state agencies to develop initiatives to ensure that all state residents have access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet services.   Official Text and Analysis.
Referred to the Senate Water, Energy, and Environment Committee on January 16, 2008
Substitute offered in the Senate on February 6, 2008
To provide that the department of information services shall work in partnership with the department of community, trade, and economic development and the utilities and transportation commission to lead a comprehensive, statewide high-speed internet deployment and adoption initiative. Provides that the partnership shall include input and cooperation among public, private, and nonprofit agencies and organizations representing economic development, local community development, technology planning, education, health care, and other relevant entities.
The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on February 19, 2008
Referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee on February 6, 2008
Substitute offered in the Senate on February 12, 2008
To delay the establishment of the work group until after the UTC has completed its 2007 study of barriers to widespread availability and use of broadband services. Requires a strategic plan to achieve the statewide deployment of high-speed internet services by December 1, 2008. Requires the DIS to produce a public web directory of educational community technology programs throughout the state. The web directory is not subject to the June 30, 2011 expiration date.
The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on February 19, 2008
Referred to the Senate Rules Committee on February 12, 2008
Amendment offered by Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (Seattle) (D) on February 19, 2008
To require the Washington Department of Information Services (DIS) to convene a workgroup of affected interests by June 1, 2008, develop a high-speed internet deployment and adoption strategy by September 1, 2008, and publish a web directory of community technology programs by January 1, 2009. DIS must report to the legislature by December 1, 2008, with recommendations on benchmarks and performance measures, budget and legislative needs, safeguards to protect proprietary and confidential information, and a plan for community technology teams. DIS must contract with a nonprofit organization to accomplish the objectives of the act. The striker amendment also provides an expiration date of June 30, 2011, for the deployment and adoption effort.
The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on February 19, 2008
Received in the House on February 21, 2008
Referred to the House Technology, Energy, and Communications Committee on February 21, 2008
Amendment offered in the House on February 27, 2008
To remove provision related to implementation by a non-profit organization. The timelines for the work group and the report are modified. Local governments and public utilities are included in the list of organizations that must be invited to participate in the work group. The DCTED and the UTC are specified in the bill as coordinating with the DIS on development of the strategy. The DIS is required to provide a status update by September 1, 2008, and a report by December 1, 2008. A null and void clause is added. If the act becomes null and void, the DIS is directed to include high-speed internet adoption and deployment in its 2009-2011 strategic plan.
The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on March 6, 2008
Referred to the House Appropriations Subcom on General Government & Info Tech Committee on February 29, 2008
Amendment offered in the House on February 29, 2008
To require the Department of Information Services to submit a request for proposals to implement the high-speed Internet strategy after the work on the strategy has been completed. A null and void was also added, making the bill null and void unless funded in the budget.
The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on March 6, 2008
Referred to the House Rules Committee on March 3, 2008
Amendment offered by Rep. John McCoy (Tulalip) (D) on March 6, 2008
To remove the following provisions: The requirement that the Department of Information Services (DIS) submit a request for proposals is removed. The requirement that local technology planning teams be led by local economic development organizations is removed. Adds the following provisions: Specifies that the work group will be convened after the 2007 broadband study is complete, or by July 15, 2008. Clarifies the high-speed internet deployment and adoption strategy is due December 1, 2008. Adds local economic development teams to the membership of the work group. Specifies that the DIS, the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development, the Utilities and Transportation Commission, or any other governmental agent or agency cannot gather or request information from telecommunications or internet service providers that could be classified as proprietary or competitively sensitive, unless such information is gathered or requested pursuant to other authority.
The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on March 6, 2008
Referred to the Senate on March 8, 2008
Moved to reconsider in the Senate on March 8, 2008
Received in the House on March 11, 2008
Amendment offered by Rep. John McCoy (Tulalip) (D) on March 11, 2008
To retain the language of the striking amendment that passed the House (H5984.4), except for section 3. Replaces section 3 with language specifying that the prohibition on the collection of information related to high-speed internet infrastructure or service applies only for the purpose of the high-speed internet strategy or initiative. Clarifies that this prohibition is not to be interpreted so as to prevent a state agency or local government from acquiring information pursuant to its statutory authority. Adds provisions related to community technology programs that were contained in 2SSB 6775, which establish a Community Technology Opportunity Program at Washington State University.
The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on March 11, 2008
Received in the Senate on March 12, 2008
Signed by Gov. Christine Gregoire on March 31, 2008