Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 43.330 - Department of Commerce.
43.330.539 - Broadband office—Digital equity plan.

RCW 43.330.539
Broadband office—Digital equity plan.

(1) The office, in consultation with the digital equity forum, the utilities and transportation commission, and the department of social and health services, must develop a state digital equity plan.
(a) The office must seek any available federal funding for purposes of developing and implementing the state digital equity plan.
(b) The state digital equity plan must include such elements as the office determines are necessary to leverage federal funding.
(2) In developing the plan, the office must identify measurable objectives for documenting and promoting digital equity among underserved communities located in the state.
(3) By December 1, 2023, the office must submit a report to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature, including the following:
(a) The digital equity plan described in subsection (1) of this section and measurable objectives described in subsection (2) of this section;
(b) A description of how the office collaborated with the membership of the digital equity forum, state agencies, and key stakeholders to develop the plan including, but not limited to, the following:
(i) Community anchor institutions;
(ii) Local governments;
(iii) Local educational agencies;
(iv) Entities that carry out workforce development programs; and
(v) Broadband service providers;
(c) A description of federal funding available to advance digital equity in the state, including any available information on the extent to which state residents have enrolled in the affordable connectivity program through an approved provider; and
(d) Recommendations of additional state law or policy that can be targeted to help improve broadband adoption and affordability for state residents. This may include recommendations of ongoing subsidies that the state can provide to low-income individuals and anchor institutions, as well as identification of revenue sources that other states or jurisdictions have developed to fund such subsidies or discounted rates.
(4) For the purpose of this section, "office" means the statewide broadband office established in RCW 43.330.532.

[ 2022 c 265 § 201.]
NOTES:

Short title—2022 c 265: "This act may be known and cited as the digital equity act." [ 2022 c 265 § 101.]


Findings—Intent—2022 c 265: "(1) The legislature finds that:
(a) Access to the internet is essential to participating in modern day society including, but not limited to, attending school and work, accessing health care, paying for basic services, connecting with family and friends, civic participation, and economic survival.
(b) For too many people in both rural and urban areas, the cost of being online is unaffordable. The legislature recognizes that building the last mile of broadband to the home is prohibitively expensive and that urban areas that are home to people earning low incomes continue to face digital redlining. Across the state there is a lack of affordable plans, barriers to enrolling in appropriate broadband plans, and barriers to fully utilize the opportunities that broadband offers.
(c) The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the need for affordable access, devices, and skills to use the internet.
(d) The need for more accessible and affordable internet is felt more acutely among specific sectors of the population, especially Washington residents in rural areas, people who are currently earning low incomes, seniors and others who lack the skills necessary to get online, people with first languages other than English, immigrant communities, and people with disabilities.
(e) The federal government is allocating considerable sums for investment in digital equity that the state broadband office will help to leverage for residents across Washington. Continued comprehensive efforts, including coordination with tribal partners, are needed to ensure truly equitable access. The legislature recognizes that there will be a need for ongoing development and maintenance of broadband infrastructure. The legislature also recognizes that there is a need for ongoing outreach by community-based partnerships to provide enrollment assistance to lower the cost of internet subscriptions and devices.
(2) Therefore, the legislature intends to broaden access to the internet, the appropriate devices, and the skills to operate online safely and effectively so that all people in Washington can fully participate in our society, democracy, and economy by expanding assistance and support programs offered in the state and establishing the governor's statewide broadband office as a central access point to such programs." [ 2022 c 265 § 102.]

Structure Revised Code of Washington

Revised Code of Washington

Title 43 - State Government—Executive

Chapter 43.330 - Department of Commerce.

43.330.005 - Findings.

43.330.007 - Management responsibility.

43.330.010 - Definitions.

43.330.020 - Department created.

43.330.030 - Director—Appointment—Salary.

43.330.040 - Director powers and duties.

43.330.050 - Community and economic development responsibilities.

43.330.060 - Trade and business responsibilities.

43.330.062 - Recruitment and retention of business—Protocols for associate development organizations and department staff.

43.330.065 - Identification of countries of strategic importance for international trade relations.

43.330.068 - International companies investing in Washington—Eligibility for excise tax incentives.

43.330.070 - Local development capacity—Training and technical assistance.

43.330.075 - Local government regulation and policy handouts—Technical assistance.

43.330.080 - Coordination of community and economic development services—Contracts with county-designated associate development organizations—Scope of services—Business services training.

43.330.082 - Contracting associate development organizations—Performance measures and summary of best practices—Remediation plans—Report.

43.330.084 - Washington state quality award—Reimbursement of application fee.

43.330.086 - Contracts with associate development organizations—Schedule of awards.

43.330.090 - Economic diversification strategies—Targeted industry sectors—Film and video production.

43.330.094 - Tourism development and promotion account—Promotion of tourism industry.

43.330.100 - Local infrastructure and public facilities—Grants and loans.

43.330.110 - Housing—Energy assistance.

43.330.120 - Growth management.

43.330.125 - Assistance to counties and cities.

43.330.130 - Services to poor and disadvantaged persons—Preschool children—Substance abuse—Family services—Fire protection and emergency management.

43.330.135 - Court-appointed special advocate programs—Funds—Eligibility.

43.330.145 - Entrepreneurial assistance—Recipients of temporary assistance for needy families—Cooperation with agencies for training and industrial recruitment.

43.330.150 - Fees—Conferences, workshops, training.

43.330.152 - Fees—Service and product delivery areas.

43.330.155 - Community and economic development fee account.

43.330.156 - Fees—Adoption by rule.

43.330.165 - Housing for farmworkers—Proposal review and funding recommendations—Farmworker housing advisory group.

43.330.167 - Washington youth and families fund.

43.330.170 - Statewide housing market analysis.

43.330.181 - Office of apple health and homes—Responsibilities.

43.330.184 - Apple health and homes account.

43.330.187 - Rapid permanent supportive housing acquisition and development program.

43.330.190 - Reimbursement of extraordinary criminal justice costs.

43.330.250 - Economic development strategic reserve account—Authorized expenditures—Transfer of excess funds to the education construction account.

43.330.260 - Inventory of economic development grant opportunities—Joint efforts for grant seeking and attracting major events.

43.330.270 - Innovation partnership zone program.

43.330.280 - Documentation of clusters of companies having a comparative competitive advantage—Process and criteria—Working group.

43.330.300 - Financial fraud and identity theft crimes investigation and prosecution program.

43.330.310 - Comprehensive green economy jobs growth initiative—Establishment.

43.330.320 - Obtaining energy efficiency services—Awarding grants to financial institutions—Credit enhancements.

43.330.330 - Funding energy efficiency improvements—Risk reduction mechanisms—Legislative intent.

43.330.340 - Appliance efficiency rebate program.

43.330.350 - Use of moneys by local municipalities to leverage financing for energy efficiency projects.

43.330.360 - Findings—Involvement of state bond authorities in financing energy efficiency projects.

43.330.365 - Electric vehicle incentive account.

43.330.370 - Evergreen jobs initiative.

43.330.375 - Evergreen jobs efforts—Coordination and support—Identification of technologies, barriers, and strategies—Outreach efforts—Performance reports.

43.330.400 - Broadband mapping account—Federal broadband data improvement act funding—Coordination of broadband mapping activities.

43.330.403 - Reporting availability of high-speed internet—Survey of high-speed internet infrastructure owned or leased by state agencies—Geographic information system map—Rules.

43.330.406 - Procurement of geographic information system map—Accountability and oversight structure—Application of public records act.

43.330.409 - Broadband mapping, deployment, and adoption—Reports.

43.330.412 - Community technology opportunity program—Administration—Grant program.

43.330.421 - Advisory group on digital inclusion and technology planning.

43.330.425 - Advisory committee on permanent supportive housing.

43.330.430 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Definitions.

43.330.431 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Trust fund.

43.330.432 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Authority of state investment board—Authority of governing board.

43.330.433 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Governing board—Liability of governing board and state investment board.

43.330.434 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Endowment principles.

43.330.435 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Development of operating plan—Elements.

43.330.436 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Program implementation and administration.

43.330.437 - Developmental disabilities endowment—Rules.

43.330.440 - Multijurisdictional regulatory streamlining projects—Establishment—Reports.

43.330.460 - Washington achieving a better life experience program—Definitions.

43.330.462 - Washington achieving a better life experience program account.

43.330.464 - Washington achieving a better life experience program—Investment of moneys—Responsibility of state investment board, governing board, and investment manager.

43.330.466 - Washington achieving a better life experience program—Established—Governing board—Administrative support—Colocation with developmental disabilities endowment governing board—Advisory committees—Interagency agreements—Limited liability.

43.330.468 - Washington achieving a better life experience program—Governing board authority.

43.330.480 - Low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program—Definitions.

43.330.482 - Low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program.

43.330.486 - Low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program—Contracts with rehabilitation agencies—Reports.

43.330.488 - Low-income home rehabilitation revolving loan program—Account.

43.330.500 - Life sciences discovery fund.

43.330.502 - Life sciences discovery fund—Grants and contracts by department.

43.330.504 - Life sciences discovery fund—Department powers.

43.330.506 - Life sciences discovery fund—Limitation of liability.

43.330.510 - Keep Washington working statewide work group.

43.330.515 - Military installation incompatible development—Defense community compatibility account—Grants.

43.330.520 - Military installation incompatible development—Project list—Report.

43.330.530 - Broadband office—Definitions.

43.330.532 - Broadband office—Established—Purpose.

43.330.534 - Broadband office—Powers and duties.

43.330.536 - Broadband office—Goals.

43.330.538 - Broadband office—Reports.

43.330.539 - Broadband office—Digital equity plan.

43.330.5393 - Digital equity planning grant program.

43.330.5395 - Digital equity forum.

43.330.540 - Cannabis social equity technical assistance grant program.

43.330.542 - Environmental justice obligations of the department of commerce.

43.330.545 - Community engagement grants—Law enforcement.

43.330.550 - Employer-supported child care—Technical assistance.

43.330.560 - Office of renewable fuels—Definitions.

43.330.565 - Office of renewable fuels—Established.

43.330.570 - Office of renewable fuels—Duties.

43.330.575 - Renewable fuels accelerator account.

43.330.700 - Findings—Homeless youth.

43.330.702 - Homeless youth—Definitions.

43.330.705 - Homeless youth—Office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs.

43.330.706 - Homeless youth—Data and outcomes measures—Report.

43.330.710 - Homeless youth—Office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs—Report to the director—Grants—Program management and oversight.

43.330.715 - Homeless youth—Training program.

43.330.717 - Homeless youth—Review of state-funded programs.

43.330.720 - Unaccompanied youth—Publicly funded system of care—Department of children, youth, and families and the office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs to develop plan.

43.330.723 - Youth and young adults exiting publicly funded system of care—Flexible funding.

43.330.724 - Youth and young adults exiting publicly funded system of care—Housing stability for youth in crisis pilot programs.

43.330.725 - Youth and young adults exiting publicly funded system of care—System of care grants.

43.330.730 - Finding—2015 c 296.

43.330.732 - Definitions.

43.330.735 - Washington small business retirement marketplace.

43.330.737 - Private sector contractor's duties—Director's duties—Rollovers—Rules—Participation of private sector financial services firms.

43.330.740 - Payment of marketplace expenses—Use of private and federal funding.

43.330.742 - Federal employment retirement income act liability—Prohibition on state-based retirement plan for nonstate employees.

43.330.745 - Incentive payments.

43.330.747 - Effectiveness and efficiency of the Washington small business retirement marketplace—Biennial report.

43.330.750 - Rules—Rule development process.

43.330.760 - Intent—2021 c 64.

43.330.762 - Manufacturing—Goals and strategies—Reports—Manufacturing council.

43.330.765 - Manufacturing—Regional strategies—Grants.

43.330.767 - Manufacturing cluster acceleration account.

43.330.770 - Manufacturing—Workforce innovation sector lead—Reports.

43.330.772 - Subject to appropriation.

43.330.900 - References to director and department.

43.330.901 - Captions.

43.330.902 - Effective date—1993 c 280.

43.330.9021 - Effective date—1994 c 5.

43.330.904 - Transfer of certain state energy office powers, duties, and functions—References to director—Appointment of assistant director.

43.330.905 - Transfer of powers, duties, and functions pertaining to county public health assistance.

43.330.907 - Transfer of powers, duties, and functions pertaining to administrative and support services for the building code council.

43.330.908 - Transfer of powers, duties, and functions pertaining to the drug prosecution assistance program.

43.330.909 - Transfer of powers, duties, and functions pertaining to the energy facility site evaluation council.

43.330.910 - Transfer of certain powers, duties, and functions of the department of information services—High-speed internet activities.

43.330.911 - Short title—2015 c 69.

43.330.912 - Conflict with federal requirements—2015 c 296.