News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 13, 2000
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke proposes measures to speed telecommunications in rural areas

OLYMPIA – Gov. Gary Locke today proposed a legislative package that would speed up the placement of advanced telecommunications services in rural areas by streamlining regulation, promoting infrastructure investment and encouraging competition.

The five-part package would:

Authorize public utility districts and rural port districts to provide wholesale telecommunications services in their districts;

Link the state's 68 library districts to the K-20 Internet network;

Establish alternative forms of regulation for local telephone companies;

Streamline local governments' regulations to speed infrastructure deployment; and

Revamp universal service funding so rural areas can continue to receive affordable phone service in a competitive environment.
The governor also announced a telecommunications pilot project in which the state will seek out telecommunications-dependent businesses looking to expand offices and facilities, and match them with rural communities.

Locke said his initiative would help reduce the disparity in telecommunications services between urban and rural areas of the state.

"When I became governor, I made it a priority to promote 'One Washington,' where we are not divided between urban and rural, east and west, or rich and poor," Locke said. "Yet in many communities, advanced telecommunications services are coming far too slowly, and in some parts of our state they are not available at all. We need to speed telecommunications investment in this state so that all citizens have access to the services they need to prosper in an information-age economy."

Locke said a modern and efficient telecommunications system provides educational opportunities, improves vital government services and increases a community's ability to attract businesses and create jobs.

Locke noted that last year, the state took several important steps to promote investment in rural areas. It provided tax credits for telecommunications-dependent businesses that locate in rural counties. It provided Community Economic Revitalization Board funding for technology and telecommunications infrastructure in rural counties. And it approved continued funding for the K-20 educational telecommunications network, which now provides high-speed services to all our state's universities, colleges, and public school districts.

"This year we want to build on those steps by promoting telecommunications investment by encouraging new market entrants, reducing regulation, and ensuring that competitive markets work more efficiently," Locke said.

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