STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1321

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 635

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 635, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BROADBAND,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to expedite the approval process for broadband-related permits while maintaining utility pole public safety standards by:

     (1)  Requiring the State and the counties to approve, approve with modification, or disapprove all broadband-related permits within specified timeframes;

     (2)  Specifying that applicants shall comply with all applicable safety and engineering requirements relating to broadband-related infrastructure; and

     (3)  Ensuring that the Federal Communications Commission and the Public Utilities Commission have authority over utility pole weight capacity limits.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Public Utilities Commission; Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; Hawaiian Telcom; TW Telecom Inc.; and Oceanic Time Warner Cable.

     Your Committees find that increased broadband capacity is critical for businesses and the growth of Hawaii's economy.  This measure streamlines the current permit review process, which will encourage the timely deployment of advanced broadband services throughout the State.  This measure also acknowledges that applicants for broadband-related permits must comply with safety and engineering requirements for utility poles and associated equipment that are affected by broadband-related installations and actions.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 635, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________ CLAYTON HEE, Chair

____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair