STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1634

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 310

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 310, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure 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.

     Your Committee received comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii, NovSol, Global Brain, and three concerned citizens.  The Department of Accounting and General Services and the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism submitted comments on the measure.  A concerned citizen submitted comments opposed to the measure.

     Your Committee has amended the measure by:

(1)  Changing the composition of the Task Force to include:

     (A)  An unspecified number of members of the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Taxation, appointed by the President of the Senate;

     (B)  An unspecified number of members of the House of Representatives Committee on Economic Development and Business Concerns appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

     (C)  Representatives from federal, state, and county government entities;

     (D)  Representatives from Hawaii's private sector technology, telecommunication, and investment industries; and

     (E)  Representatives of nonprofit organizations; and

     (2)  Requiring the Task Force to:

(A)  Identify action that will produce increased investment in, and the availability of advanced broadband capabilities at more affordable rates;

(B)  Identify administrative actions that will promote broadband access and usage within the State;

(C)  Recommend proposals to eliminate barriers to broadband access;

(D)  Focus attention on broadband use by educational, healthcare, and other institutions;

(E)  Consult with stakeholders to obtain funding for broadband deployment and development projects;

(F)  Identify best practices to establish a database for deploying broadband; and

(G)  Encourage government agencies to use broadband and to study the feasibility of, and the utility of various services that broadband provides.

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

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair