Public Works Board - Broadband Financing

Under RCW 43.155.160, the Public Works Board is authorized to provide a competitive grant and loan program for last-mile and middle-mile broadband infrastructure. We are to develop procedures for the application and award process to eligible applicants that include public and private entities. These loans and grants will fund projects that expand affordable, resilient broadband service to enable economic development, public safety, health care, and education in Washington’s communities.

Data specific to broadband infrastructure application, deployment, and attributes must be tracked. A contracted database will compile and maintain this information. Additionally, the PWB is to publish on our website the proposed geographic broadband service area and proposed speeds for each application submitted within thirty days of the close of the application process.

• The PWB is to facilitate objections to submitted applications within thirty days of publishing.
• The PWB may evaluate objections (from an existing broadband service provider), and must consider them in making determinations on applications submitted.

Rule-making will be another top priority to update our WAC and include the broadband program.

The Public Works Board’s broadband program will be developed in cooperation with the Governor’s Statewide Broadband Office.

Broadband Program Development Timeline

The graphic below shows the current anticipated timeline for program development. The PWB is dedicated to making this program a success. To follow through with this commitment, the development process will be thorough and involve coordination with the Governor’s Statewide Broadband Office, the Utilities and Transportation Commission, the Department of Commerce, the Community Economic Revitalization Board, and stakeholders.