CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 31

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 478

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 478, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND CABLE INDUSTRY INFORMATION REPORTING,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose and intent of this measure is to repeal the telecommunications and cable industry information reporting requirements for broadband service providers and mobile radio service providers.

Your Committee on Conference finds that chapter 440J, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), was enacted to meet a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reporting requirement to determine the broadband service ability within each state. Specifically, chapter 440J, HRS, requires broadband service providers to annually report the percentage of each census block that does not have access to broadband service to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Your Committee on Conference further finds that, not only does the FCC no longer require reporting of broadband service availability by census block, but now requires reporting broadband service availability by locations based on addresses and geographic coordinates. This housekeeping measure therefore repeals chapter 440J, HRS, as it is no longer necessary, and additionally reduces the administrative burdens of broadband service providers in the State.

Accordingly, your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Making conforming amendments to certain definitions rather than incorporating them by reference to section 206R-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

(2) Making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 478, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 478, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ AMY A. PERRUSO Co-Chair	____________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI Chair
____________________________ JACKSON D. SAYAMA Co-Chair	____________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE Co-Chair
	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Co-Chair