After hundreds of meetings, phone calls and emails plus testimony by WITAmembers at dozens of legislative hearings the State Universal CommunicationsFund has been extended for an additional five years. While there are stillsome budget issues to be resolved, hopefully during next year’s legislativesession, we should all take time to celebrate this monumental occasion. Mike Oblizalo, […]
OLYMPIA — Over the next two years, Washington plans to lend $14.44 million and give another $7.11 million to public agencies, tribes and businesses to bring high-speed internet to rural areas and Indian reservations. The money, set aside in the new two-year capital budget, is a fraction of the $1 billion the Washington Independent Telecommunications […]
It’s cherry blossom time in Olympia but that’s not all that’s making us smile. After years of hard work by the WITA team, including the members who have been so generous with their time and information, we are on the precipice of passing legislation that includes a five year extension to the State Universal Communications […]
House ITEC Committee Passes Bill with Ten-Year Extension to the State Fund! On a unanimous voice vote the House Innovation, Technology and Economic Development Committee passed the Governor’s broadband bill, HB 1498, after amending it to include a ten-year extension of the State Universal Communications Fund. The original bill included a five-year extension. Rep. Sharon […]
This week my goal was to get thirty signatures on our bill. That effort was interrupted by Governor Inslee’s press conference where he announced his broadband bill. WITA is one of the few organizations that has been involved in drafting this bill and so I was invited to attend. After the formal presentations, and after […]
Welcome to a fresh new look for the WITA website with pictures and content courtesy of our members. We’ve also changed up some features to put more emphasis on our Premier Associate Members including more banner advertising and an opportunity for those members to get in front of our phone company members with news about […]
National News It turns out that the article Ryan Blethen wrote about our members made it into US News and World Reports. Way to go WhidbeyTel and Pioneer! Many thanks also to Eric Trump who spent a great deal of time with Ryan as well. Check out the article here: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/washington/articles/2018-07-15/washington-rural-telecom-companies-go-beyond-usual-services