STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1508

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 947

S.D. 2

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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 947, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A BROADBAND AND DIGITAL EQUITY OFFICE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Education; Department of Transportation; Department of Human Services; AARP Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Primary Care Association; Broadband Hui; Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your Committee finds that the coronavirus 2019 pandemic has highlighted the importance of high quality and affordable broadband service access for all of the State's residents. High quality broadband service has enabled students to continue learning through distance learning and employees to work from home. However, the lack of high quality broadband service access has detrimentally affected students and workers in rural and low socio-economic urban areas. This measure will establish a Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office to develop and support a coordinated strategy for increased access to further enhance economic development, education, health care, and emergency services.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to January 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 947, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 947, S.D. 2, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair