Washington SB 5505: Addressing the use of local stormwater charges paid by the department of transportation.

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to the state universal communications services 1
program; amending RCW 80.36.300, 80.36.630, 80.36.650, 80.36.660, 2
80.36.670, 80.36.680, 80.36.690, and 80.36.700; providing expiration 3
dates; and declaring an emergency.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
Sec. 1. RCW 80.36.300 and 1985 c 450 s 1 are each amended to 6
read as follows:7
The legislature declares it is the policy of the state to:8
(1) Preserve affordable universal telecommunications service;9
(2) Maintain and advance the efficiency and availability of 10
telecommunications service;11
(3) ((Ensure that customers pay only reasonable charges for 12
telecommunications service;13
(4) Ensure that rates for noncompetitive telecommunications 14
services do not subsidize the competitive ventures of regulated 15
telecommunications companies;16
(5))) Upgrade and maintain the state telecommunications 17
infrastructure, including middle and last mile;18
(4) Invest in public safety including, but not limited to, 911, 19
enhanced 911, and next-generation 911 service;20
S-0831.1
SENATE BILL 5505
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Chapman, Short, and Wellman
Read first time 01/27/25. Referred to Committee on Environment,
Energy & Technology.
p. 1 SB 5505

(5) Ensure that all areas of the state are at or above the 1
state's broadband goals as described in RCW 43.330.536; and2
(6) Promote diversity in the supply of telecommunications 3
services and products in telecommunications markets throughout the 4
state((; and5
(6) Permit flexible regulation of competitive telecommunications 6
companies and services)).7
Sec. 2. RCW 80.36.630 and 2019 c 365 s 11 are each amended to 8
read as follows:9
(1) The definitions in this section apply throughout this section 10
and RCW 80.36.650 through 80.36.690 and 80.36.610 unless the context 11
clearly requires otherwise.12
(a) "Basic residential service" means those services set out in 13
47 C.F.R. Sec. 54.101(a) (2011), as it existed on May 13, 2019, and 14
mandatory extended area service approved by the commission.15
(b) "Basic telecommunications services" means the following 16
services:17
(i) Single-party service;18
(ii) Voice grade access to the public switched network;19
(iii) Support for local usage;20
(iv) Dual tone multifrequency signaling (touch-tone);21
(v) Access to emergency services (911);22
(vi) Access to operator services;23
(vii) Access to interexchange services;24
(viii) Access to directory assistance; and25
(ix) Toll limitation services.26
(c) "Broadband service" means any service providing advanced 27
telecommunications capability, including internet access and access 28
to high quality voice, data, graphics, or video.29
(d) "Communications provider" means a provider of communications 30
services that assigns a working telephone number to a final consumer 31
for intrastate wireline or wireless communications services or 32
interconnected voice over internet protocol service, and includes 33
local exchange carriers.34
(e) "Communications services" includes telecommunications 35
services and information services and any combination thereof.36
(f) "Incumbent local exchange carrier" has the same meaning as 37
set forth in 47 U.S.C. Sec. 251(h).38
p. 2 SB 5505

(g) "Incumbent public network" means the network established by 1
incumbent local exchange carriers for the delivery of communications 2
services to customers that is used by communications providers for 3
origination or termination of communications services by or to 4
customers.5
(h) "Interconnected voice over internet protocol service" means 6
an interconnected voice over internet protocol service that: (i) 7
Enables real-time, two-way voice communications; (ii) requires a 8
broadband connection from the user's location; (iii) requires 9
internet protocol-compatible customer premises equipment; and (iv) 10
permits users generally to receive calls that originate on the public 11
network and to terminate calls to the public network.12
(i) "Program" means the state universal communications services 13
program created in RCW 80.36.650.14
(j) "Telecommunications" has the same meaning as defined in 47 15
U.S.C. Sec. 153(43).16
(k) "Telecommunications act of 1996" means the telecommunications 17
act of 1996 (P.L. 104-104, 110 Stat. 56).18
(2) This section expires July 1, ((2025)) 2027.19
Sec. 3. RCW 80.36.650 and 2019 c 365 s 12 are each amended to 20
read as follows:21
(1) A state universal communications services program is 22
established. The program is established ((to protect public safety 23
and welfare)) under the authority of the state to regulate 24
telecommunications under Article XII, section 19 of the state 25
Constitution. The program is established to advance the development 26
of statewide telecommunications infrastructure that is capable of 27
supporting applications such as public safety, telemedicine, services 28
for persons with special needs, distance learning,