STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2160-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.C.R. No. 41

S.D. 1

H.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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 41, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII BROADBAND AND DIGITAL EQUITY OFFICE TO CONDUCT A DATA MAPPING STUDY TO IDENTIFY GEOGRAPHICALLY UNDERSERVED AND UNSERVED AREAS IN THE STATE THAT LACK QUALITY BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request that the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office conduct a data mapping study to identify geographically underserved and unserved areas in the State that lack quality broadband connectivity.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee finds that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has magnified the need for broadband access for all residents in the State. Your Committee further finds that in recognition of this, the federal government has funded broadband equity and digital equity programs across the country. However, to achieve the goals set forth in these federal programs, high resolution location data is needed to determine unserved and underserved areas throughout Hawaii. This measure will assist the State in identifying geographically underserved and unserved areas that lack quality broadband connectivity.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language requesting that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism allocate $150,000 to contract for data mapping services; 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 41, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 41, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair