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Proposal to let Public Works Board make broadband repair loans draws caution from cities
Summary
Staff briefed SB 5188 to let the Public Works Board make loans for broadband repair and replacement; the Association of Washington Cities warned the change could be ill-timed given recent and proposed sweeps from the Public Works Assistance Account and urged consideration of the CURB board as an alternative venue.
The committee heard a staff briefing on Senate Bill 5188, which would expand the Public Works Board’s broadband program authority to include loans for repair and replacement of middle-mile and last-mile broadband infrastructure. Rob Hatfield (staff) told the committee the program would prioritize applications for areas that would be unserved if repairs do not take place and cited operating and capital costs for Commerce associated with administering the expanded program.
Steven Ellis, speaking for the Association of Washington Cities, urged caution. Ellis said the timing is risky because of prior diversions from the Public Works Assistance Account ($288 million last biennium) and a proposed $75 million diversion in the current governor’s budget; he warned those diversions could undermine confidence that the account will be available to fund critical water, sewer and solid-waste projects and suggested the committee consider whether CURB (the curb board referenced in testimony) might be the more appropriate statutory home for some broadband programs serving small communities.
Committee members asked technical questions about why the program sits in the Public Works Board rather than CURB and whether liability and indemnity concerns for ports and small communities would be better addressed through the CURB board. Witnesses acknowledged the point and offered to continue the conversation; staff said an updated fiscal note had been requested.
The hearing concluded with follow-up questions and no committee vote during this session.
