House Bill 1982 would codify the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) Rural Broadband program
A bill from Rep. Kevin Waters that would further the effort to expand rural broadband in Washington received a hearing in the House Innovation, Community and Economic Development, and Veterans Committee Tuesday. House Bill 1982 would codify the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) Rural Broadband program.
“I am a proud CERB board member and champion their efforts to expand their lending and grant services to help strengthen our state broadband,” said Waters, R-Stevenson.
Since 2018, CERB has operated a Rural Broadband Program with funding from the capital budget, which provides grants and loans to local governments and federally recognized tribes. The program finances the cost to build infrastructure to provide high-speed, open-access broadband service to rural and underserved communities for the purposes of economic development or community development.
By codifying the bill, it would formalize and make permanent the authority for CERB to have a loan and grant program for broadband to rural communities.
“CERB has done great work over the last five years with this loan and grant program, including infusing $38 million into broadband through other revenues,” said Waters. “They are a trusted partner for economic development within rural communities and have proven their commitment to these communities throughout Washington.”
Among the many supporters of the legislation are the Makah Tribal Council, the Washington Education Association, and the Washington Public Utility Districts Association.
“I’m excited to see this bipartisan bill move forward as it would allow CERB to have the authority to use their existing funds and capabilities to help expand and fund broadband in our rural and tribal communities, added Waters.”
If the bill becomes law, it would not require any new staffing or additional funding, as projects would continue to be funded from CERB’s biennial appropriation.
The 2024 legislative session began on Jan. 8 and is scheduled to last 60 days.
Information provided by Washington State House Republicans houserepublicans.wa.gov
Also read:
- Opinion: Were Republican voters just sleeping during the August primary election?
CCRP Chairman Matt Bumala says 60% of primary no-shows in the 17th and 18th districts were Republicans. - High school football: New coach prepares for long-term success at Prairie High School
James Young-Lewis, a Clark County native who graduated from Evergreen in 2009, became Prairie’s head coach in May after working as an assistant coach across various programs since 2015, joining Prairie’s staff in 2024. - Cost to battle 20 wildfires in WA has topped $200M
Twenty wildfires have cost Washington $207M in one month, more than two-thirds of what DNR spent all last fiscal year. - Opinion: WA Cares’ launch showcased care WA Cares did not provide
Gov. Ferguson showcased a caregiving arrangement at the WA Cares launch that the program had not paid for a single day of. - Former State Rep. Liz Pike provides update on husband Neil Cahoon
Neil Cahoon, a Camas resident, has undergone multiple surgeries including five on Aug. 15 after the Aug. 10 crash near La Center’s Daybreak Airport. - Opinion: Portland’s War on Cars Part 4 – A smarter automobile strategy to end gridlock
O’Toole argues fuel wasted in Portland-area congestion has sextupled since 1982, generating 250,000 tons of extra greenhouse gases annually. - $1,000 first prize for Camas Plein Air Art Event honoring Marquita Call on Sept. 26
Plein air artists compete Sept. 26 in Camas for $1,000 first prize honoring gallery founder Marquita Call.
