STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1296

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 72

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 Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 72 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO ESTABLISH A WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP FUNDING SOURCES FOR RURAL BROADBAND IMPROVEMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to establish a working group to develop funding sources for rural broadband improvement.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Primary Care Association and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; and Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Your Committee finds that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has underscored the critical need for universal broadband access to participate in distance learning, telework and job training, telehealth, social services, and civic and social engagement. This measure will enable coordination among stakeholders to identify broadband deployment obstacles and capitalize on funding opportunities to improve broadband use and foster a robust network and digital equity for all residents, especially those in rural areas of the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Correcting the measure's title to reflect the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, rather than the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, is requested to establish the working group; and

(2) 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 Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 72, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 72, S.D. 1.

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

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair