Speed really does matter to Washington state | Speed Matters – Internet Speed Test

May 20, 2009

Thanks to two years of intense effort by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Speed Matters campaign in Washington state, the Washington State legislature unanimously passed and Governor Christine Gregoire signed HB 1701 aimed at increasing both access to and adoption of broadband.

The Washington Department of Information Services is tasked with implementing the legislation, designed to accomplish the following:

* Create a Washington state data collection and mapping initiative;
* Establish Community Technology Opportunity Programs;
* Reestablish the high-speed internet workgroup, renamed the Advisory Council on Digital Inclusion, to oversee the expansion of broadband in Washington;
* Designate an agency as an entity for application purposes of the Broadband Data Improvement Act P.L. 110-385; and
* Designate a state agency to implement broadband policy and services...