STAND. COM. REP. NO. 30

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 809

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 Economic Development, to which was referred H.B. No. 809 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BROADBAND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Hawaii Broadband Office within the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation;

(2) Establish the position of the State Broadband Strategy Officer;

(3) Rename the Broadband Assistance Advisory Council as the Broadband Advisory Council and amends its purpose and membership;

(4) Require the Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to convene and chair the Broadband Advisory Council; and

(5) Appropriate funds for the creation and staffing of the Hawaii Broadband Office.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Hawaii State Public Library System, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Transform Hawai‘i Government, HawaiiKidsCAN, Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, Hawaii Leeward Planning, Rock Your Cause, Kaunalewa, O‘ahu County Democrats Digital Equity Committee, Auamo Collaborative, Learning Bond, Maui County Workforce Development Board, Oceanit, Hawaiian Hope Org, Code.org, Tangent Systems, Kamehameha Schools, and fourteen individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Hawaii Technology Development Corporation.

Your Committee finds that there is a strong relationship between broadband access and economic development, education, health, community building, and civic engagement throughout the State. Furthermore, broadband is essential to maintain Hawaii's global competitiveness and a modern lifestyle, as its use grows in all sectors, particularly in education, retail, and government services. This measure establishes the Hawaii Broadband Office and restructures the Broadband Assistance Advisory Council to improve broadband services throughout the State.

Your Committee notes that representation from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Office of Enterprise Technology Services on the Broadband Advisory Council may benefit the Council and believes that this issue merits further discussion by your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 809, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 809, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development,

____________________________

SEAN QUINLAN, Chair