STAND. COM. REP. NO. 869

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 850

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 850, S.D. 1, 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 require the Department of Transportation and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to jointly convene a Broadband Access Equity Task Force to expand digital inclusion and adoption to achieve digital equity for residents of rural communities.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and two individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Office of Information Practices.

Your Committee recognizes that the coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which has prompted stay-at-home and social-distancing orders, has demonstrated the importance of universal broadband access. Your Committee finds that widespread broadband access is necessary for distance learning, telework, job training, telehealth, social services, and personal communication. Your Committee further finds that the expansion of broadband access to rural areas of the State may be advanced by creating a forum for the Department of Transportation and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to meet with various stakeholders to develop recommendations for expanding broadband access.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 850, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 850, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair