The supplemental operating budget includes $50.0 million from the general fund–state for digital equity and broadband access programs (sec. 128(197)). These could include programs to increase broadband access for low-income and rural communities.

The supplemental capital budget appropriates $100 million in federal funding (the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) for broadband planning and infrastructure. Of that, $50 million is for the State Broadband Office, $25 million is for the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) rural broadband program, and $25 million is for Public Works Board broadband.

Meanwhile, the state has used two pots of federal COVID relief—the coronavirus state fiscal relief fund and the coronavirus capital projects account—to fund broadband projects in the capital budget. Together, the enacted biennial capital budget appropriated $347 million from these accounts for broadband projects. (The supplemental shifts some of the funding between the two accounts.)

Additionally, the supplemental operating budget creates a joint legislative task force on best practices for broadband deployment (sec. 945). It must review existing permitting processes in Washington and best practices in other states and make recommendations for modifying laws that may limit broadband deployment. A report is due by Dec. 1, 2022.

(Previous posts on the supplemental budget are here.)