STAND. COM. REP. NO.  685

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 625

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 625, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INFRASTRUCTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the siting process of infrastructure 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, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Hawaiian Telcom, Inc., Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc.; Maui Electric Company, Limited.; AT&T; Sprint; Cellular Telephone Industry Association; Mobilitie; Verizon; and T-Mobile USA, Inc.  testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Public Works, County of Hawaii testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Transportation, Cable Television Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, Office of the Mayor of the County of Honolulu, City and County of Honolulu Office of the  Mayor, and Charter Communications, Inc. offered comments on the measure.

     Your Committee notes that concerns were raised regarding the expansion of wireless siting locations to state and county properties, facilities, and buildings, which may potentially interfere with existing public safety communication infrastructures that support first responders and emergency services. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that this measure also applies to small wireline facilities and small wireline facilities networks;

     (2)  Clarifying that the siting process limited to state- and county-owned structures, utility poles, and light standards, and will not interfere with privately owned structures, utility poles, and light standards;

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 625, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 625, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair