STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2004

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1062

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1062, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BROADBAND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to facilitate the deployment of broadband infrastructure in unserved or underserved areas of the State.

Specifically, this measure establishes and appropriates funds for a broadband infrastructure grant program to be administered by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee finds that the grant program will assist in bridging the broadband gap to rural areas where broadband deployment would otherwise be cost prohibitive for providers because of the excessively high cost to install infrastructure to serve only a small number of subscribers in those areas.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1062, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair