STAND. COM. REP. NO.1645

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: S.C.R. No. 87

S.D. 2

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 87, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE IDENTIFICATION OF APPROPRIATE SITES FOR TELECOMMUNICATION TOWERS AND ANTENNAE TO PROVIDE OPTIMUM COVERAGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the formation of a committee to identify sites for the placement of telecommunication towers and antennae that provide optimum coverage and to develop a program that encourages the co-location of antennae towers to minimize the aesthetic impact on residential areas, cultural landscapes, and open areas.

The Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Verizon Hawaii, Inc., testified in support of this measure. AT&T Wireless Services, Sprint, and Verizon Wireless testified in opposition to this measure.

Changes in federal law governing regulation of the telecommunications industry has resulted in an increase in the development of new telecommunication and antenna sites in the State. The location of these towers impact the aesthetics of the surrounding areas, information technology operations, and public safety radio communications. Therefore, this measure requests the convening of representatives from the State, counties, and telecommunications industry to identify tower sites that will provide optimum telecommunications coverage and to develop a program to encourage the co-location of towers to minimize their impact on the aesthetics of residential areas, cultural landscapes, and open areas.

Your Committee has amended this measure to create a more balanced membership on the committee by adding as members:

(1) An additional representative from the telecommunications industry;

(2) A representative from the Department of Public Safety; and

(3) A representative from the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 87, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 87, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

RON MENOR, Chair