Wash. House Committee Hears Testimony on Updated Digital Equity Act

The Washington state House Innovation Committee heard testimony Tuesday on broadband legislation, HB 2313. The bill assigns additional duties to the state Office of Equity, said Emily Pool, a committee staffer. The office “is tasked with continuing to develop and also maintain the state equity plan, and the office must also undertake the outreach effort” being conducted by the Statewide Broadband Office, Pool said. This includes assisting consumers and enrolling them in broadband and digital equity programs, she said. Rep. Mia Gregerson (D), who sponsored the bill, said she was focused on digital equity since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill updates the state’s initial broadband equity act, Gregerson said. “With anything as big as this you always really need to come back and have that time to understand what has happened" and “how far have we come forward,” she said. Most testimony supported approval of the legislation.