STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1560

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 74

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 74 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII BROADBAND AND DIGITAL EQUITY OFFICE TO INCREASE ACCESS TO WI-FI IN PUBLIC PARKS THROUGHOUT THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office to increase access to Wi-Fi service in public parks throughout the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee finds that access to the Internet is essential for life in the twenty-first century, which is increasingly reliant on digital technology. However, rural and neighbor island communities often lack the same basic infrastructure that urban residents enjoy. Although federal programs have been offered to assist low-income families in paying for certain broadband technology, many working families remain unable to afford the increasing monthly cost of internet service due to Hawaii's high cost of living. Your Committee further finds that numerous cities have begun installing Wi-Fi service in public parks to support internet access for underserved communities, including the cities of Los Angeles, California and Indianapolis, Indiana. Your Committee believes that increasing access to Wi-Fi service in public parks will help to address these disparities in internet access. This measure will therefore help to improve access to basic educational, occupational, and health care services by strengthening digital equity in the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 74 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

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LYNN DECOITE, Chair