Port, county discuss fiber optic house bill at joint meeting

Commissioners from the Port of Whitman and Whitman County met Monday at the courthouse and discussed legislation the Port is supporting for refined telecommunications authority.

Present at the meeting were all three county commissioners, two Port commissioners, Public Works Director Mark Storey, County Administrator Gary Petrovich and Maribeth Becker, clerk of the commissioners. Port Commissioner Dan Boone was absent due to illness.

Port Commissioner Tom Kammerzell shared with the county that Ninth District Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, has introduced HB 1702 in the legislature, and a companion bill has been introduced in the senate. The bill aims to refine telecommunication authority for ports statewide, which would also allow for the installation of more fiber optic lines.

“This bill just enables ports to run fiber through areas that are underserved,” said Kammerzell. “With the exception of King and Pierce counties, the entire state is underserved.”

Kammerzell explained that the option to install more fiber lines could increase broadband access to rural areas. He said this would be accomplished by the Port being allowed to install the lines and then lease them to public entities. He gave the example of CenturyLink or another similar provider jumping on the opportunity to lease the fiber once the Port has it installed.

“A provider could come in, hook up a box and then provide services,” said Kammerzell, noting services could also be bundled. “It could be Internet, phone and TV in one service, which usually ends up being a better deal for the user.”

Kammerzell said that Whitman County is very underserved when it comes to broadband.

“Every place in Whitman County is underserved but Pullman,” he said. “Just to get everybody connected – it’s truly as important as water and sewer.”

Two weeks ago, Port Executive Director Joe Poiré spoke to the Gazette about the legislation, and he said the Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA) has been working with ports statewide and Rep. Dye on the bill. He said it was time to update the legislation which was originally passed in 2000.

“The legislation is 17 years old,” Poiré said two weeks ago. “And we want to refine that authority.”

Port Commissioner John Love said this is a great opportunity for ports.

“We have excess fiber. We have quite a bit of opportunity for growth,” he said. “There are some areas where we have yet to put our fiber in.”

The county commissioners had questions about the legislation, particularly in regard to the return the Port would receive from installing fiber and being able to lease it privately.

Love said it will eventually lead to greater broadband access.

“When it really starts to get utilized, it’s going to help pay for more in the ground,” he said.

Poiré said two weeks ago the gain would be seen by taxpayers.

“It really wouldn’t do anything for us,” he said. “But it would do something for them. It’s for our constituents, it’s for our taxpayers.”

Kammerzell said that by taking out an “in between” by being able to enter agreements with exclusive providers, some taxes will be able to be eliminated.

“It just doesn’t seem proper to tax everybody twice, he said. “It’s taking the private sector out of this.”

Kammerzell also said the legislation could ultimately lead to new businesses and economic growth in rural areas.

“If we want a tool that will bring economic gain to this area, this is it,” he said.

Additional discussion at the meeting included the county commissioners informing the Port there is no update with the Hawkins project, and snow removal has been a costly expense this year. The Port praised the county’s snow removal efforts.

“Road crews have done a wonderful job of keeping the roads clear,” said Kammerzell.