STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1587

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 991

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 991, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to decrease the overall regulatory burden on providers of basic exchange service, or landline, telecommunication providers by:

(1) Authorizing providers in counties with a population of less than 500,000 to increase retail rates annually by no more than $6.50 monthly without prior approval by the Public Utilities Commission;

(2) Exempting providers from prior Commission approval requirements for issuance of securities, disposition of property, sale of stock, and reporting and competitive procurement requirements under certain conditions; and

(3) Clarifying the providers' exemption from rate regulation.

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Public Utilities Commission, and Hawaiian Telcom supported this measure. Hawaii Association for Justice, Charter Communications, and Aloha State Association of the Deaf opposed this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 991, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair