HB310 SD1

relating to technology.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Technology is the key to success in today's economy. Schools, businesses, and state and local governments are constantly looking for ways to offer quicker and more efficient services to students, residents, and visitors through the Internet, to the extent that Internet services have rapidly become a part of everyday life. However, despite all the technological advances being made, not everyone has the same access to such technology and services.

The legislature finds that a statewide network will be a strategic investment in the people of the State. A statewide system will provide the necessary infrastructure to bridge the digital divide that prevents many individuals and families from enjoying opportunities generated by the Internet because they cannot afford the cost of wireless Internet access. This lack of access to the Internet limits educational and job opportunities and participation in many aspects of modern society and eventually will lead to segments of the population constantly lagging behind their technologically advanced peers. Offering affordable Internet access services statewide is an essential element of a long-term strategy to invest in the State's workers, residents, and most importantly, the future of Hawaii's children.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a Hawaii broadband task force to create a Hawaii statewide Internet access plan for the development of a high‑speed, Internet broadband system.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established the Hawaii broadband task force. The task force shall be comprised of the following:

(1) Four members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate;

(2) Four members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(3) A representative of the governor appointed by the governor;

(4) The director of the department of business, economic development, and tourism, or the director's designee;

(5) Two members from the University of Hawaii's school of information and computer sciences to be appointed by the president of the University of Hawaii;

(6) The superintendent of education, or the superintendent's designee;

(7) The president of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii;

(8) A member of the public utilities commission appointed by the chair of the commission;

(9) Four members who shall represent the city and county of Honolulu, and the counties of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii, each appointed by the respective county mayor;

(10) Two members who shall represent county police departments or other first-responder agencies;

(11) Six members representing the technology and communications industries, and community development and human and social services organizations, of whom three members shall be appointed by the president of the senate, and three members by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

(12) A representative of the incumbent local exchange carrier selected by the incumbent local exchange carrier.

(b) The members of the task force shall select the chairperson of the task force and shall be allowed expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

(c) The task force shall create a Hawaii statewide Internet access plan for the development of a high‑speed, Internet broadband system. In developing this plan, the task force shall:

(1) Study other state or municipal governments that have installed high-speed, Internet access systems; the types of services offered by such systems; the methods of financing such systems; and the number and types of subscribers of the services offered;

(2) Evaluate the feasibility of the development, implementation, and operation of a network to provide high-speed Internet access statewide, as well as leasing facilities to independent service providers;

(3) Determine the viability of providing low-cost, high‑speed Internet access to households, businesses, and outdoor areas statewide;

(4) Research the most current and future Internet access technologies, such as, but not limited to, Wi-MAX;

(5) Consider any other appropriate technologies that may arise in the course of the work of the task force; and

(6) Solicit public comments during preparation of the plan.

(d) The task force shall submit a report of its initial findings and recommendations regarding the creation of a Hawaii statewide Internet access plan for the development of a high‑speed, Internet broadband system to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2008.

(e) The task force shall submit a final Hawaii statewide Internet access plan for the development of a high-speed, Internet broadband system, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2009. The plan shall include but not be limited to:

(1) Recommendations on the types of facilities and the amount of bandwidth that should be installed, and the timing and placement of such facilities;

(2) Estimates of the potential cost of installing and maintaining a high-speed, Internet broadband system and potential financing mechanisms; and

(3) The feasibility of partnerships with private-sector Internet service providers to provide Internet access statewide.

(f) The Hawaii broadband task force shall cease to exist after June 30, 2009.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the purposes of supporting the work of the Hawaii broadband task force established in section 2.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the office of the auditor for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2034.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	310
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1