STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1599
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2021
RE: H.R. No. 137
H.D. 2
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2021
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.R. No. 137, H.D. 1, entitled:
"HOUSE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING AND ADOPTING THE GOALS SET FORTH IN THE DIGITAL EQUITY DECLARATION FOR HAWAII ADOPTED BY THE BROADBAND HUI,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism; AlohaCare; Hawai‘i Primary Care Association; Young Democrats of Hawai‘i; Transform Hawai‘i Government; Oahu Economic Development Board; and one individual.
Your Committee finds that digital equity is the condition in which all Hawaii residents have the information technology capacity needed to participate fully in society, democracy, and economy, including civics, social, and cultural activities, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services. Your Committee further finds that digital inequity has been a pressing community issue for many years, separating persons in rural communities and socioeconomically disadvantaged circumstances from the rest of society through a lack of adequate broadband infrastructure, internet-capable devices, affordable broadband service, and technological knowledge. The Digital Equity Declaration establishes goals to reduce and overcome the digital inequity in the State and this measure acknowledges and supports the Declaration.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Inserting language that explains the Digital Equity Declaration; 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 H.R. No. 137, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 137, H.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,
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____________________________ AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair |
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