STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1879

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 478

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 478, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND CABLE INDUSTRY INFORMATION REPORTING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to repeal the telecommunications and cable industry information reporting requirements for broadband service providers and mobile radio service providers.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; CTIA; Charter Communications; Hawaiian Telcom; and Maui Chamber of Commerce. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from AARP Hawai‘i.

Your Committee finds that the accurate pinpointing of unserved and underserved areas where broadband infrastructure is needed continues to be critical to determine where the expansion of service is most needed in the State. To assist in this effort, Act 259, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012 (Act 259), was enacted to collect broadband data at the census-block level.

Your Committee further finds that with the enactment of the Broadband DATA Act, P.L. 116-130, in 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was tasked with collecting granular service availability data from wired, fixed wireless, and satellite broadband providers. The FCC also launched the FCC National Broadband Map that publicly displays where internet services are available on a location-by-location basis, which is more precise than the data required to be collected under existing state law. Accordingly, this measure repeals the provisions established by Act 259 that have been rendered unnecessary under the Broadband DATA Act.

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. 478, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair