STAND. COM. REP. NO. 250

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 850

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 850 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a Broadband Equity Task Force to expand digital inclusion and adoption to achieve digital equity to ensure that all individuals and communities, especially the most disadvantaged and geographically isolated, have access to information and modern communication technologies.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Transportation, Office of the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, Office of the Mayor of Maui County, Office of the Mayor of Hawaii County, Office of the Mayor of Kauai County, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Ka'u Rural Health Community Association, AARP Hawai‘i, and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Office of Community Services; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; and Office of Information Practices.

Your Committee finds that the global pandemic, triggering stay-at-home and social distancing orders, has underscored the critical need for universal broadband access for distance learning, telework and job training, telehealth and social services, and social and civic engagement.

Your Committee heard the testimony from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs recognizing the value of seeking input from and coordinating among the various broadband stakeholders comprising the Broadband Access Equity Task Force, and this measure provides the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs with needed flexibility to help carry out the functions of the task force. Your Committee also finds that the Broadband Access Equity Task Force will consider issues that are of great interest to the public. Accordingly, your Committee believes that the public should have access to the task force's policy discussions and decision-making.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Replacing the Administrator of the Cable Television Division with the Director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs;

(2) Removing the Broadband Access Equity Task Force from the Sunshine Law exemption under chapter 92 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 850, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 850, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair