STAND. COM. REP. NO.  573

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 116

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 116 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure the effective integration of facilities necessary for the provision of advanced wireless communications services by creating an application process for the siting of wireless communications facilities that encourages the placement of antennas on existing structures, including buildings, utility poles, and communication towers, thereby minimizing their impact on the environment.

     Cingular Wireless, T-Mobile USA, Inc., and Verizon Wireless testified in support of this bill.  Hawaiian Telcom offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Deleting references to utility poles as existing                   structures that could support new antennas and                 equipment; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for                    consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 116, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 116, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair