STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2029-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.C.R. No. 120

S.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 120, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO CONSIDER AND ADOPT AN EFFICIENT, STREAMLINED PROCESS TO REVIEW REQUESTS MADE BY ELECTRIC UTILITIES TO PROVIDE MIDDLE MILE BROADBAND SERVICES IN FURTHERANCE OF THE STATE'S EFFORTS TO EXPEDITE BROADBAND ACCESS TO UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED AREAS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Public Utilities Commission to consider and adopt an efficient, streamlined process to review requests made by electric utilities under section 269‑19, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to provide middle mile broadband services in furtherance of the State's efforts to expedite broadband access and equity, facilitate digital equity, and promote expeditious broadband deployment to areas of the State that are unserved and underserved.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaiian Electric Company and Ocean Networks, Inc. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Public Utilities Commission, and Hawaiian Telcom.

Your Committee finds that existing regulated public utilities are able to provide foundational, diverse middle mile broadband services to internet service providers and other third parties without duplicating efforts or congesting rights-of-way or view planes, allowing electric utilities and internet service providers to partner together for the common good.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 120, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education & Technology,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair