STAND. COM. REP. NO.  103

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 625

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Intrastate Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 625 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INFRASTRUCTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to facilitate the deployment of high-speed broadband infrastructure by establishing the siting process for small wireless facilities and small wireless facilities networks on state- and county-owned land.

The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; Office of Planning; Office of Environmental Quality Control; Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc.; Maui Electric Company, Limited; T-Mobile USA, Inc.; AT&T; Sprint; CTIA; Mobilitie; Verizon; Maui Hotel & Lodging Association; and a concerned individual supported this measure.  Hawaiian Telcom opposed this measure.  The Cable Television Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Charter Communications, Inc. offered comments on the measure.   

     Your Committee finds that this measure will help Hawaii increase its broadband access and speed, and provide the State with a global array of economic, educational, and social advantages.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the State and county shall permit the collocation of small wireless facilities or small wireless facilities networks on state and county structures, state and county utility poles, and state and county light standards;

     (2)  Clarifying that the annual rate charged to a wireless provider for collocations of small wireless facilities or small wireless facilities networks on state or county structures, state and county utility poles, and state and county light standards shall be based solely on a federal formula;

     (3)  Adding definitions for "collocation", "general applicability", "public property", and "rights-of-way";

     (4)  Allowing wireless communication antennas in rural districts and small wireless facilities in agricultural districts; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Intrastate Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 625, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 625, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Intrastate Commerce,

____________________________

TAKASHI OHNO, Chair