STAND. COM. REP. NO. 38-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1782

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was referred H.B. No. 1782 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BROADBAND SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow an electric utility to own, operate, lease, plan, construct, install, maintain, or replace broadband facilities, including middle mile infrastructure, to help facilitate the development of and investment in broadband facilities and services in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System; Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative; Hawaiian Electric Company; and Ocean Networks, Inc. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Charter Communications. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Public Utilities Commission, Common Cause Hawaii, and Hawaiian Telcom.

Your Committee finds that it is critical to improve access to broadband services for residents, consumers, and businesses across the State. Although broadband coverage in the State is widespread, the lack of accessibility to reliable high-speed broadband has had a negative effect in many areas, but particularly to rural, unserved, and underserved communities. Allowing an electric utility to own, operate, lease, plan, construct, install, maintain, or replace broadband facilities will help facilitate the development of and investment in broadband facilities and services across the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the definition of "person"; 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 Economic Development that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1782, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1782, 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