STAND. COM. REP. NO.  2189

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2019

 

RE:   S.B. No. 991

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 991, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to decrease the overall regulatory burden on providers of basic exchange service, or landline, telecommunication providers by:

 

     (1)  Authorizing providers in counties with a population of less than 500,000 to increase retail rates annually by no more than $6.50 monthly without prior approval by the Public Utilities Commission;

 

     (2)  Exempting providers from prior Commission approval requirements for issuance of securities, disposition of property, and reporting requirements under certain conditions; and

 

     (3)  Clarifying the providers' exemption from rate regulation.

 

     The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Public Utilities Commission, Hawaiian Telcom, and Verizon supported this measure.  Charter Communications and the Hawaii Association for Justice opposed the measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 991, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair