STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3387

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2527

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2527, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BROADBAND SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

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

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes a broadband infrastructure grant program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to award grants to eligible projects pursuant to the program;

(2) Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to implement the broadband infrastructure grant program; and

(3) Appropriates funds for the establishment and administration of the broadband infrastructure grant program.

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

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from Keep Your Power and numerous 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 this measure supports increased efficiency and effectiveness of economic development, education, health care, and emergency services by facilitating the deployment of broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas of the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the section of the bill that provides an appropriation to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the establishment and administration of the broadband infrastructure grant program; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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 S.B. No. 2527, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2527, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair