HB1432 HD1

SECTION 1. Technology is the key to success in today's economy. Schools, businesses, and state and local governments are constantly looking into 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, with all the technological advances being made, not everyone has the same access to such technology and services.

The legislature finds that a statewide wireless network will be a strategic investment in the people of the state. A state-operated system will provide the necessary infrastructure that will bridge the digital divide that prevents many individuals and families from obtaining 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 dimensions of modern society and eventually will lead to segments of the population forever lagging behind their technologically advanced peers. Offering affordable wireless Internet 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 task force to study the feasibility of creating a statewide wireless access program.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established the Hawaii statewide wireless access task force in the office of the auditor for administrative purposes only. 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, appointed by each respective county mayor; and

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

(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.

(1) Review other state or municipal governments that

have installed high-speed wireless Internet systems, the types of services offered over 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 State developing,

implementing, and operating a network to provide high- speed wireless Internet access statewide, as well as leasing facilities to independent service providers;

(3) Determine the viability of providing low-cost, high-

speed wireless Internet access to households, businesses, and outdoor areas statewide; and

(4) Research the most current and future wireless

technologies such as, but not limited to, Wi-MAX.

(d) The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature and to the auditor no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2008.

(e) After reviewing the task force's report, the auditor shall prepare a Hawaii statewide access plan for the development of a state-owned, high-speed wireless Internet broadband system. The plan shall include:

(1) Recommendations on the types of facilities and the amount of bandwidth the State should install, and the timing and placement of such facilities;

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

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

The auditor shall solicit public comments when preparing the plan and shall incorporate all or a portion of the recommendations reported by the Hawaii statewide wireless access task force. The auditor shall submit the Hawaii statewide wireless access plan to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2009.

(f) The Hawaii statewide access task force shall cease to operate 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 for the purposes of supporting the work of the Hawaii statewide wireless access task force established in section 2.

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

SECTION 4. 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 2008-2009 for creating the Hawaii statewide wireless access plan.

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

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2034.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1432
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII