Synergy grants received

Greater Spokane Incorporated and the Port of Whitman County each received $1 million in state grants to create “Innovation Partnership Zones” focusing on biomedical research and information technologies.

The zones are set up to include a research institution, at least one globally competitive company and training activities. The goal is to develop synergies between companies and research, similar to the Research Triangle in North Carolina. The $1 million grants can be spent on equipment, buildings or telecommunication.

Five communities received the grants. The Spokane University District Innovation Partnership Zone will focus on biomedical research, such as genomics and drug discovery. The Pullman Innovation Partnership Zone will focus on clean information technology and datacenter technologies.

Official gets FCC role

Simon ffitch, the Olympia-based division chief of the Washington attorney general’s Public Counsel Section, has been appointed to serve on an advisory committee of the Federal Communications Commission.

He will serve as a consumer representative on the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, which advises the FCC on implementing universal service provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. That includes financial support for telecommunications companies in high-cost areas to keep rates affordable; expanding access for schools and libraries to advanced telecommunications technology; support for rural health care telecommunications technology; and low-income rate assistance.

The board consists of three FCC commissioners, four state regulatory commissioners and one consumer representative. Consumers pay for the Universal Service Fund through a fee on their phone bills.

During the appointment, ffitch will still lead the Public Counsel Section, which advocates for consumer interests on major utility rate cases, mergers and other rule-making before the Utilities and Transportation Commission.

From staff reports