[Editor's note: This is an excerpt from a longer legislative report.]

An effort to coordinate the development and deployment of high-speed internet statewide (SB 6438) is nearing completion. The bill, which NPI strongly supports, requires the Department of Information Services to work with a nonprofit organization to-be-named to implement a strategy that would improve access to broadband.

The Senate on Friday refused to accept the House amendments and has requested that the House drop the changes. Again, the chambers must resolve their differences by Thursday, the scheduled end of the legislative session.

Thanks to Senators Kohl-Welles, Rockefeller, and Oemig for taking the lead on SB 6438 in the state Senate.