RCW 36.01.360
Telecommunications services and facilities authorized—Requirements.
(1) A county may construct, purchase, acquire, develop, finance, lease, license, provide, contract for, interconnect, alter, improve, repair, operate, and maintain telecommunications services or telecommunications facilities for the purpose of furnishing the county and its inhabitants with telecommunications services. The county has full authority to regulate and control the use, distribution, and price of the services.
(2)(a) Before providing telecommunications services pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, a county must examine and report to its governing body and to the state broadband office the following about the area to be served by the county:
(i) An assessment of the current availability of broadband infrastructure and its adequacy to provide high-speed internet access and other advanced telecommunications services to end users;
(ii) The location of where retail telecommunications services will be provided;
(iii) Evidence relating to the unserved nature of the community in which retail telecommunications services will be provided;
(iv) Expected costs of providing retail telecommunications services to customers to be served by the county;
(v) Evidence that proposed telecommunications infrastructure will be capable of scaling to greater download and upload speeds to meet state broadband goals under RCW 43.330.536;
(vi) Sources of funding for the project that will supplement any grant or loan awards; and
(vii) A strategic plan to maintain long-term operation of the infrastructure, and the expected installation charges and monthly costs for end users.
(b) The state broadband office must post a review of the proposed project on its website.
(3) For purposes of this section:
(a) "Telecommunications" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 80.04.010.
(b) "Unserved" means an area of Washington in which households and businesses lack access to broadband service at a minimum 100 megabits per second download speed and at a minimum 20 megabits per second upload speed.
[ 2021 c 294 § 7.]
NOTES:
Short title—2021 c 294: See note following RCW 54.16.330.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 36.01 - General Provisions.
36.01.030 - Powers—How exercised.
36.01.040 - Conveyances for use of county.
36.01.050 - Venue of actions by or against counties.
36.01.060 - County liable for certain court costs.
36.01.070 - Probation and parole services.
36.01.080 - Parking facilities—Construction, operation and rental charges.
36.01.085 - Economic development programs.
36.01.090 - Tourist promotion.
36.01.095 - Emergency medical services—Authorized—Fees.
36.01.100 - Ambulance service authorized—Restriction.
36.01.104 - Levy for emergency medical care and services.
36.01.120 - Foreign trade zones—Legislative finding, intent.
36.01.130 - Controls on rent for residential structures—Prohibited—Exceptions.
36.01.150 - Facilitating recovery from Mt. St. Helens eruption—Scope of local government action.
36.01.160 - Penalty for act constituting a crime under state law—Limitation.
36.01.170 - Administration of trusts benefiting school districts.
36.01.180 - Zoo and aquarium advisory authority—Constitution—Terms.
36.01.190 - Initial meeting of zoo and aquarium advisory authority—Expenditure of funds—Powers.
36.01.230 - Cooperative watershed management.
36.01.240 - Regulation of financial transactions—Limitations.
36.01.250 - Environmental mitigation activities.
36.01.260 - Urban forestry ordinances.
36.01.270 - Contractors—Authority of county to verify registration and report violations.
36.01.280 - Community athletics programs—Sex discrimination prohibited.
36.01.310 - Accessible community advisory committees.
36.01.330 - Failing septic systems—Connection to public sewer systems—Appeals process.
36.01.340 - Final determination on state highway permit projects.
36.01.350 - Removal of restrictive covenants—Hearing, notice.
36.01.360 - Telecommunications services and facilities authorized—Requirements.