STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1064-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2076

S.D. 2

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 Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 2076, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Define broadband equity;

(2) Clarify the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office's duties to promote and support digital equity and broadband deployment; and

(3) Appropriate funds to the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office for full-time equivalent administrative positions for the operation and administration of the Office.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Disability and Communication Access Board; State Council on Mental Health; Hawai‘i Primary Care Association; Common Cause Hawaii; Maui Chamber of Commerce; and Broadband Hui. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Hawaii Hui LLC.

Your Committee finds that increasing access to broadband service and expanding digital equity are crucial elements to allow the people of Hawaii to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven economy and world.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding a preamble;

(2) Establishing a Hawaii Broadband Infrastructure Authority to oversee broadband infrastructure in the State;

(3) Removing from the duties of the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office the promotion of the landing of trans-Pacific submarine cable, including the development of a shared access cable station and associated terrestrial connectivity to reduce barriers to fiber landing in Hawaii;

(4) Deleting the granting of authority to the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office to enter into contracts, in accordance with chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for consulting services to render professional and technical assistance and advice, and any other contracts for consulting services that are necessary and proper to carry out its duties;

(5) Deleting amendments to section 206S-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that clarified the duties of the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office relating to digital equity;

(6) Making an appropriation out of the federal funds received by the State to enhance broadband infrastructure programs and expand access to broadband in the State, including the installation of broadband infrastructure, to be expended by the University of Hawaii; and

(7) 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 Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2076, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2076, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education & Technology,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair