WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Governor signs Morris bill to foster telecommunications development

 The state’s telecommunications industry will be poised to supply the burgeoning demands for service with new job-creation legislation sponsored by Rep. Jeff Morris (D-Mount Vernon).

House Bill 2175, which Governor Inslee signed this morning, streamlines permit requirements for cellphone and wireless service expansion, with a focus on the scaled-down cell antennas and equipment installations that play an increasing role in telecommunications networks. The intent is to eliminate barriers that keep money from investment in the state telecommunications infrastructure.

“The explosion in mobile telecommunications presents a great opportunity for economic development in Washington state,” Morris said. “We want to target growth industries to create jobs and prosperity in the future.”

Supporting seemingly-boring legislation that nonetheless makes a big difference in people’s day to day lives has become a trademark of Morris’ work in Olympia. Unfortunately, such legislation often has to be passed in stages.

“I was disappointed that what I considered most important part of this legislation was eliminated in the final bill,” said Morris. “It would have simplified permitting requirements at the city and county level, but local governments fought against that section.

However, he vowed to keep working on it next year. “We need to decide that state-of- the-art wireless services are more important to our communities than bureaucracy and red tape.”

In Washington, a significant number of households don’t have landlines, instead relying on mobile devices. Even fewer young adults ages 18-29 own landlines. As the demands for greater data capacity grow, small cell technologies are a great complement to provider networks.