Volume 2: Draft Gorst Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement

GORST PLANNED ACTION EIS | AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT, SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION MEASURESSignificant Unavoidable Adverse ImpactsUnder all alternatives, the Gorst Creek Watershed and the Gorst UGA would experience additional population andemployment growth. Development in the Gorst Creek UGA is anticipated under the alternatives andcomprehensive planning, as well as review of project specific development utility permits, would result in nosignificant unavoidable adverse impacts on water, wastewater, and stormwater.Future project construction associated with any of the project alternatives could cause temporary serviceinterruptions to existing utilities. Under the Alternative 1, the long-term higher frequency of maintenance on agingutility infrastructure and untreated stormwater discharging directly to fish-bearing streams, estuarine wetlands,and tidally influence waters is considered a moderate impact. Both Alternative 2 and 3 would have beneficialeffects on stormwater management from adoption of the Watershed Characterization & Framework Plan.3.13.4. TelecommunicationsAffected EnvironmentThe telecommunications services discussed in the section include telephones, cable television, and cellular phones.The WUTC regulates telephone and radio communications; cable television and cellular telephone service are notunder WUTC jurisdiction and are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Telecommunicationproviders must also comply with local regulations such as land use and public rights-of-way. The companiesdiscussed here often provide more than one type of telecommunications service. In this discussion, they areintroduced under the category with which they are most commonly associated.WatershedTelecommunication ServicesTelephone service providers are require by state law to provide adequate telecommunications service on demandper Chapter 80.36.090 RCW. Telephone service providers are therefore required to provide services in a mannerthat accommodates growth within their service area, wherever it may occur. As such, telephone service providersgenerally do not conduct detailed long-range planning activities. General improvements and maintenancenecessary keep the current system operational and to accommodate future growth are implemented as required.CenturyLink provides local and long-distance telephone service throughout Kitsap County and also provides digitaltelevision and DSL Internet. Kitsap PUD also operates a fiber-optic network, providing wholesale broadbandinternet access. State law prevents the PUD from offering this service directly to residents, but they sell access tothe network to various telecommunications retailers, who offer that access to consumers. Othertelecommunications providers in the vicinity of the study area include AT&T, McLeodUSA, NW CommNet LLC,Sprint, and Verizon.Cable TelevisionCable television providers are regulated under the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of1992, which is enforced by the FCC. Cable television providers enter franchise agreements with local governments;these franchise agreements regulate service rates to ensure compliance with FCC guidelines. Cable televisionservice in the Gorst watershed is provided by Comcast, DirectTV, and Wave Broadband. Comcast and WaveBroadband also provide digital phone service and broadband internet access.Cellular TelephoneCellular telephone service in the watershed is provided by a variety of national and regional carriers, includingVerizon Wireless, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Cricket Wireless. Cellular telephone providers are regulated directlyby the FCC. Cellular service depends upon a series of transmitting antennae located on towers throughout aprovider’s service area. Additional antennae are constructed when a particular area begins to experience capacityoverload, and providers will expand capacity in response to consumer demand.Draft | June 2013 3-235