STAND. COM. REP. NO.  945

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 310

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 310, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to facilitate the development and implementation of a state-owned, high-speed wireless Internet system by:

     (1)  Establishing the temporary Hawaii statewide wireless access task force (Task Force) to evaluate and report on the feasibility of the State's developing, implementing, and operating a network to provide high-speed wireless Internet access statewide; and

     (2)  Requiring the Auditor, after reviewing the Task Force's report, to prepare a Hawaii statewide wireless access plan for the development of a state-owned, high-speed wireless Internet broadband system. 

     The Honolulu Police Department supported this bill.  Hawaiian Telcom submitted comments. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Broadening its scope by deleting references to "wireless" access and systems, thereby also allowing wireline technologies to be considered in the Task Force's report and the Auditor's plan;

     (2)  Deleting the provisions specifying that the statewide, high-speed Internet access system considered in this bill be state-operated or state-owned;

     (3)  Adding a representative of the incumbent local exchange carrier to the Task Force's membership; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 310, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 310, H.D. 2, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair