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With the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the federal government is making histor- <br />ic investments in broadband and digital equity, establishing $65 billion in programs aimed at bringing all U.S. <br />residents online. The bulk of these programs will be implemented at the state level. The successful implemen- <br />tation of this generational opportunity will rely on significant coordination between the State and a wide range <br />of stakeholders, including local and Tribal governments, community-based organizations, community anchor <br />institutions, Internet Service Providers, and others. In Washington, Broadband Action Teams (BATs) and Tribes <br />will play a critical role in the Washington State Broadband Office’s (WSBO) local coordination efforts. <br />WSBO has partnered with Washington State University (WSU) Extension to support the capacity of BATs and <br />Tribes, and the development of their local Broadband Action Plans and Digital Equity Action Plans. These plans <br />will provide a local framework for planning and implementing projects to expand broadband infrastructure and <br />promote digital equity for everyone in our communities. <br />In addition to building this foundational planning framework, the <br />local Action Plans will support the State’s local coordination ef- <br />forts required under the Broadband, Equity, Access, and De- <br />ployment (BEAD) and Digital Equity Act (DEA) programs es- <br />tablished under the IIJA. This local coordination will provide <br />WSBO the local input and data they need to ensure that <br />the implementation of these programs serves Washing- <br />tonians for decades to come. <br />Your participation is critical to Washington having a <br />well-informed broadband and digital equity plan that en- <br />compasses the diverse realities across Washington and <br />makes inroads into solving the digital divide. <br />A BAT, community, or Tribe that receives BAT <br />Planning funds will submit the results from <br />these efforts to WSU Extension Broad- <br />band and Digital Equity Support <br />team. Results from across the State <br />and Tribal Governments will be <br />compiled and utilized to inform <br />WSBO and Legislative priorities <br />and allocation strategy for the <br />State’s BEAD funding. <br />Introduction <br />WRITING BROADBAND ACTION AND DIGITAL EQUITY PLANS 1