Official Text and Analysis.

Authorizes a public utility district to provide retail telecommunication services in an unserved area under certain conditions.

• Changes the title to address the inclusion of port districts. • Revises the intent language. • Provides port districts with the same retail authority as provided to PUDs under the bill.

Specifies the authority for a public utility district and a port district to provide retail telecommunications services applies to unserved areas within the district's limits.

(1) Adds a provision allowing a public utility district (PUD) to provide wholesale telecommunications services as follows: (a) Within an adjoining county that is already provided electrical services by the district; and (b) within an adjoining county that does not have a PUD providing electrical or telecommunications services headquartered within the county's boundaries, but only if the PUD providing the telecommunications services is not authorized to provide electrical service. (2) Removes the ability of and process for an existing broadband service provider to object to a retail telecommunications services project of a PUD or port district for unserved areas. (3) Adds provisions requiring a PUD or port district to notify and consult with the Statewide Broadband Office (Office) within 30 days that it intends to provide retail telecommunications services in unserved areas and submit to the Office a telecommunications infrastructure and service plan. (4) Adds a provision allowing a PUD or port district that provides retail telecommunications services in unserved areas to use state funds, federal funds appropriated through the state, or federal funds dedicated for projects in unserved areas to fund projects identified in its telecommunications infrastructure and service plan.

Modifies the definition of "unserved areas" by adding a provision specifying that areas where federal government funding has been awarded under the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund for deployment or expansion of broadband must be considered "served" unless the awarded funding is forfeited or the recipient is disqualified.

Modifies how the Statewide Broadband Office (Office) may utilize the telecommunications infrastructure and service plan of a public utility district or port district by: (a) providing that such plans will enable the Office to allocate funding, rather than potentially allocate funding, for unserved areas; (b) clarifying that the Office may use the plans to report on the feasibility and sustainability of any project in the retail service area; and (c) providing that the Office may confirm that any federally funded or state funded project is within an unserved area as defined by the applicable federal or state guidelines instead of as defined in the bill.

Allows a broadband service provider providing service in an area where a public utility district or port district proposes to provide retail service, or is applying for state or federal funds to provide service within an unserved area, to submit information to the Statewide Broadband Office demonstrating that theproject would result in overbuild. Requires the Statewide Broadband Office to include this information when making recommendations for the allocation of state or federal funds.

Requires a public utility district or a port district providing retail broadband services in an unserved area to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws to the same extent as a private entity that provides retail broadband services in Washington.

Removes language that specifies that public utility districts (PUDs) and port districts may not provide telecommunications services to end users with certain exceptions and instead allows PUDs and port districts to provide retail telecommunications services as authorized in statute.