STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3667

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 207

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Higher Education and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.R. No. 207 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO ESTABLISH A RELIABLE, INDEPENDENT, AND TRANSPARENT METHODOLOGY TO ASSESS EFFECTS OF RADIO FREQUENCY EMISSIONS GENERATED BY WIRELESS ANTENNA SITES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii to establish a reliable, independent, and transparent methodology to assess effects of radio frequency emissions generated by wireless antenna sites.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Schlack Ito; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Crown Castle.

Your Committees find that Act 49, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018 (Act 49), established a policy framework to foster the installation of a robust, reliable, and technologically advanced broadband infrastructure throughout the State. 5G, fifth-generation wireless technology, would allow for faster and higher-capacity transmissions to support significant data loads generated by smart devices, the Internet, robots, artificial intelligence, driverless cars, and other machine-to-machine connections. Currently, Hawaii has over four thousand wireless antenna sites, many of which accommodate multiple wireless carriers. Deployment of 5G would deliver faster and more reliable communications across the State, but faces concerns, especially in the current era with misinformation and public skepticism of 5G technology. Ensuring consistent and compliant Federal Communications Commission regulations may allow Hawaii to ensure safe growth in new wireless technologies.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 207 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair