N.M., Wash. Bills Seek Changes to Telecom Support

Washington state and New Mexico lawmakers advanced bills to revise telecom support Wednesday. The Washington Senate voted 48-1 Wednesday for a bill (SB-5600) to extend by 10 years the state's universal communications services program, which was set up in 2014 to give temporary support to small ILECs. Lawmakers previously extended the program from 2019 to June 30, 2024. A House panel considered a similar bill earlier this session (see 2301310060). Meanwhile, the New Mexico Senate Tax Committee approved a substitute to SB-155 that would say “the annual amount of access reduction support payments for an eligible incumbent local exchange carrier in 2024, 2025 and 2026 shall be equal to” what it was in 2023, with payments ending Dec. 31, 2026. The committee also cleared a House bill (HB-160) to allow the state transportation commission to waive right-of-way fees for installing infrastructure in unserved or underserved areas. The Judiciary Committee must approve it next. The House unanimously passed the bill last month (see 2302210058).