Kitsap (WA) residents struggle with internet connections and less than desirable options. According to the Kitsap Sun, satellite options are expensive and unreliable; Verizon’s home service requires closer proximity to a tower, and new broadband-related infrastructure being built out by the Kitsap Public Utility District (KPUD) comes with a hefty price tag.
Most residents rely on their phone’s WiFi hotspots, rationing usage for work and school assignments, or drive to find public hotspots. “It’s frustrating to us…because the internet is becoming a utility,” said resident Aline Holmstrom. “You can’t work from home very easily without the internet, and especially with everything going on in the pandemic right now, people are required to be home. You can’t do school, and you can’t do work from home without the internet.”
Now, state legislators are proposing the Public Broadband Act (House Bill 1336) to boost the broadband rollout. According to the Sun, the latest version of the measure would allow municipalities like public utility districts, ports, some cities, towns, and counties the ability to sell internet access directly to customers. This new measure would also allow public entities to tap into the available $27 billion in federal broadband funding, reducing rollout time and the cost to citizens.
According to bill sponsor Rep. Drew Hansen, “It’s going to be up to each community to decide whether they want public broadband in their area or not. We don’t micromanage or restrict the ability of the community to make the decisions they think are best for their residents.” In a tweet, Hansen noted that 1,000 members of the public signed on to support the bill, which he hopes will bring “full public broadband” to Washington this year.
Advocates for the bill said the proposal would encourage broader access in unserved homes and neighborhoods, including rural areas and reservations. Opponents said the measure would undercut private investment, reported the Sun.
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