HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

597

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

PROPOSED

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the State lacks a plan to capitalize on fast-evolving broadband technology that will improve the State's outcomes in information access, economic development, education, and communications.

     The purpose of this Act is to authorize the establishment within the department of business, economic development, and tourism of one full-time equivalent (1.00 FTE) permanent broadband coordinator position to create a state broadband plan.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established within the department of business, economic development, and tourism one full-time equivalent (1.00 FTE) permanent broadband coordinator position, which shall be exempt from chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and shall report directly to the director of business, economic development, and tourism.

     The broadband coordinator, with the assistance of the department of business, economic development, and tourism, shall create a state broadband plan, which shall be submitted along with a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2018.  The state broadband plan shall include, at a minimum:

     (1)  An analysis of current broadband infrastructure and geographic broadband gaps;

     (2)  An inventory of current community broadband resources;

     (3)  Recommendations on improving digital literacy, including the development and use of school-based programs;

     (4)  Initiatives to obtain public input on identifying current and future broadband resources and needs;

     (5)  Solutions for microwave, wireless, and fiber broadband communication requirements, including the obtaining of rights of way for broadband installation and use, and navigating the state and county permitting processes; and

     (6)  A list of necessary capital improvement projects to implement the broadband plan.

     (b)  The broadband coordinator shall also develop and include in a report to the legislature, legislation to establish a broadband review panel to serve as a broadband regulatory authority.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for one full-time equivalent (1.00 FTE) permanent broadband coordinator position to create the state broadband plan, as provided in this Act.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.


 


 

Report Title:

Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Broadband Coordinator

 

Description:

Establishes within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism a broadband coordinator to create the state broadband plan.  Requires report to legislature.  Appropriates funds.  (HB597 HD1 PROPOSED)

 

 

 

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