STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1125-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2479

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2479 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require each public housing project, dwelling unit, and state low-income housing project that is built, renovated, or reconstructed after January 1, 2023, to include all broadband infrastructure that is necessary for tenants to have access to broadband service.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Health; Hawaii Public Housing Authority; State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Common Cause Hawaii; Hawaiian Telcom; Tangent Inc.; Succeed Hawaii, LLC; AARP Hawai‘i; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the need for broadband access for all residents in the State. Your Committee further finds that the need for broadband access is especially true in the case of residents in public housing units where there are limited broadband options. This measure provides the ability for multiple broadband providers to offer low-cost options to these residents.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2479 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

____________________________

NADINE K. NAKAMURA, Chair