STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1043-16

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

 

RE:   S.B. No. 2511

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Development & Business, to which was referred S.B. No. 2511 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

The purpose of this measure is to address the membership of the Broadband Assistance Advisory Council.  More specifically, this measure:

 

     (1)  Includes the Director of Business, Economic Development and Tourism or the Director's designee as a permanent member of the Broadband Assistance Advisory Council;

 

     (2)  Ensures that each county is represented by at least one government official member on the Broadband Assistance Advisory Council;

 

     (3)  Authorizes the chair of the Broadband Assistance Advisory Council to designate ad hoc members of the Council or of Council working groups; and

 

     (4)  Clarifies provisions relating to the expiration of council members' terms.

 

     The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Cable Television Division testified in support of this measure.

 

     Broadband service has become essential information infrastructure in the Twenty-first Century and access to it must be expanded.  The Broadband Assistance Advisory Council advises the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs on policy and funding priorities to promote and encourage the use of telework alternatives for public and private employees and to expedite the development of affordable and accessible broadband services in Hawaii.  Your Committee finds that the membership of the Broadband Assistance Advisory Council does not currently include representation from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, every county, or other interested public or private sector organizations.  Your Committee finds that inclusion of these other parties will enhance the Advisory Council's ability to advise on broadband-related policy for the entire State.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2511 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Business,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, Chair