HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

623

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to broadband.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  (a)  There is established the position of broadband coordinator within the department of business, economic development, and tourism, which shall be exempt from chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and which shall report directly to the director of business, economic development, and tourism.  The broadband coordinator shall create a state of Hawaii broadband plan, with the assistance of the department of business, economic development, and tourism, which shall be finalized and 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 of Hawaii 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 engage the public and obtain public input on identifying current broadband resources and needs, as well as future needs;

     (5)  Solutions for microwave, wireless, and fiber broadband communication requirements, including the obtaining of rights of way and 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 its report to the legislature, legislation to establish a broadband review panel to serve as a broadband regulatory authority; provided that, at a minimum, the broadband regulatory authority shall have the power to:

     (1)  Adopt rules for broadband infrastructure, design, and permitting processes;

     (2)  Develop fair and equitable fee and lease rates for broadband infrastructure; and

     (3)  Develop a statewide broadband form, and any other forms as necessary.

     SECTION 2.  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 the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.00 FTE) permanent broadband coordinator position within the department of business, economic development, and tourism to develop the state of Hawaii broadband plan.

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

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Broadband; State Plan; Coordinator; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes and funds a Broadband Coordinator position within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, to develop the State of Hawaii Broadband Plan.  Requires a report.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.