STAND. COM. REP. NO. 32

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 1191

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was referred H.B. No. 1191 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program to award grants to applicants to extend deployment of infrastructure used to provide broadband service to unserved areas of the State;

(2) Amend the Hawaii Technology Loan Revolving Fund to change it to the Hawaii Broadband Infrastructure Fund, including the types of funds deposited into the fund; and

(3) Authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for the Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Life of the Land, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Transform Hawai‘i Government, Keep Your Power Hawaii, Barefoot Fitness Naturally, Mahana Weddings Maui, Aloha Freedom Coalition, Charter Communications, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Budget and Finance; Office of Information Practices; Hawaii Technology Development Corporation; and Hawaiian Telcom.

Your Committee finds that it is critical to improve access to broadband services for residents, consumers, and businesses across the State. Although broadband coverage in the State is widespread, additional investment can be made to keep up with needs in rural communities to bridge the digital divide. The Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program proposed by this measure would facilitate deployment of infrastructure necessary to bring broadband service to unserved and underserved areas of the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1191, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1191, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development,

____________________________

SEAN QUINLAN, Chair