STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3885

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 29

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Labor and Technology and Government Operations, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 29 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO SUPPORT CONTINUED FUNDING OF THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the United States Congress to support continued funding of the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Verizon, Hawaiian Telcom, Charter Communications, Broadband Hui, and one individual.

Your Committees find that under the Affordable Connectivity Program administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), eligible households in the State receive discounts on monthly broadband service and a one-time discount to purchase electronic devices from participating providers, allowing subscribers to afford internet speeds and devices sufficient for key online activities such as at-home learning, health care, banking, and public services. Furthermore, in areas of the State in which broadband is not available, the Affordable Connectivity Program incentivizes the deployment of new broadband infrastructure. Your Committees find, however, that the FCC is in the process of winding down this program that currently benefits over sixty thousand Hawaii households, due to insufficient congressional funding. Therefore, this measure urges continued funding of the Affordable Connectivity Program to ensure that low-income households in the State may continue to access vital online services and resources.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor and Technology and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 29, and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Labor and Technology and Government Operations,

________________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair

________________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair