STAND. COM. REP. NO. 939-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2236

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2236, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to create a new entity to regulate various communications and information services under a single regulatory body and to ensure people of Hawaii are afforded equitable access to connectivity in all parts of the State by:

(1) Transferring to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) jurisdiction over cable TV and the Broadband Assistance Advisory Council from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and telecommunications carriers from the Public Utilities Commission;

(2) Establishing the position of Commissioner of Telecommunications to oversee and supervise the regulatory functions transferred to DBEDT;

(3) Creating a special fund in DBEDT for administration, including personnel costs, of regulation of cable systems and telecommunications carriers; and

(4) Transferring all rights, powers, duties, assets, funds, and employees of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the Public Utilities Commission associated with the regulatory jurisdiction transferred by this measure to DBEDT.

Hawaiian Telcom opposed this measure. The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs offered comments.

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. 2236, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair