STAND. COM. REP. NO.  722-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 2874

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2874 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BROADBAND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to promote and increase the use of broadband technology in Hawaii's educational system by establishing the Broadband Special Fund to be used by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, to support an initiative to provide:

     (1)  Broadband access to public schools; and

     (2)  The means necessary for technology-based learning in public schools, including the provision of laptop computers to public school students.

Oceanic Time Warner Cable testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Americans for Democratic Action Hawaii, Community Alliance on Prisons, Maui Community Television, Hawaii Fathers-4-Justice, Ka Lei Maile Alii Hawaiian Civic Club, Asian Pacific Management Consultants, Kailua Neighborhood Board, World Can't Wait Hawaii, GODS LOVE, Koani Foundation, and numerous concerned individuals testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of

Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Olelo Community Media, PBS Hawaii, and several concerned individuals provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that the term "laptop computers" means portable computer devices; and

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

     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. 2874, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2874, H.D. 1, 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