STAND. COM. REP. NO. 905-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2710

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2710, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require, as a condition of the issuance of any broadband-related permit, a wireless telecommunications carrier to maintain emergency back-up power for a minimum of eight hours.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Kailua Alert & Prepared and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from CTIA. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Public Utilities Commission.

Your Committee finds that, in the event of an emergency, access to reliable communications is critical for persons to contact emergency services or their loved ones. Your Committee further finds that communications over cellular channels is an effective method for emergency management agencies to disseminate vital information. This measure ensures that communications services are available in the case of emergency by requiring telecommunications facilities to have back-up power.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the conditions for the issuance of any broadband-related permit to require that a telecommunications facility maintain emergency back-up power for a minimum of:

(A) Eight hours if the wireless telecommunications carrier is constructing, reconstructing, or reconfiguring a telecommunications facility that is a component of the core network or provides a backhaul link within a wireless telecommunications carrier's network; and

(B) Four hours if the wireless telecommunications carrier is constructing, reconstructing, or reconfiguring a telecommunications facility that is not a component of the core network and does not provide a backhaul link within a wireless telecommunications carrier's network; 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2710, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2710, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair