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 Fund. The bills containing that extension, what I normally refer to as the Governor’s broadband bills, are on track to get to the Governor’s desk for his signature by the end of April. Staff from the UTC contacted us to see if we would be willing to consider a one year continuation of the current process for distributing dollars as new rules will take months to promulgate. As part of that one year continuation we are hopeful that the UTC will be willing to waive their rate floor rule as it appears the FCC is set to do that as well. Rick Finnigan and Rick Vitzthum have been authorized by the board to discuss these issues with the UTC on WITA’s behalf.
In anticipation of the passage of the five year extension of the fund we are moving the time of the April 15th meeting of the Active Members of the Board to 4pm. I’ll send details as soon as we have a location identified.
Save the Dates!
April 14, 2019
WITSA Fundraiser in our own suite at Mariner Stadium!
Thank you to Root Sports for donating this suite!
June 5-7, 2019
OTA/WITA Annual Meeting, Salishan
Gleneden Beach, OR
October 14– 16, 2019
Leadership Conference/Outside Plant/Quarterly Meeting
Alderbrook, Union, WA
January 22, 2020
Quarterly Meeting/Holiday Dinner
Olympia, WA
