HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	821
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Hawaii needs to better address critical broadband infrastructure in the State by establishing an open access, carrier neutral cable landing station to attract transpacific fiber optic cables and expand Hawaii's connectivity around the world, which will establish Hawaii as a key player in the global broadband market and address the need for better broadband connection.  Attracting partners with the necessary technical expertise and resources has the potential to develop Hawaii into a strategic communications and knowledge hub in the Pacific.  This hub would integrate a robust global communications network and edge computing for the development of next generation applications, such as artificial intelligence and smart communities.

     In 2008, the Hawaii broadband task force submitted a final report to the legislature that made several key recommendations.  The task force recommended, among other things, that Hawaii should "aggressively promote the landing of new trans-Pacific submarine fiber in Hawaii, including a shared access cable station that reduces barriers to fiber landing in Hawaii" to maximize Hawaii's connectivity to the world.  In 2018, TeleGeography, a telecommunications market research and consulting firm, released an update on the status of six new transpacific fiber optic projects linking Asia and North America.  However, none of these six will land in Hawaii.

     The legislature further finds that the timing for an open access, carrier neutral cable landing is critical due to various federal and private contracts that are available to Hawaii, such as the South American Pacific Link, which would connect Hawaii to South America, Central America, and the east coast of the United States continent.  An open access, carrier neutral cable landing would also benefit the State by creating a level playing field for telecommunications carriers, improving access to broadband, and creating new means of economic development in the State.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Establish a public-private partnership with the Hawaii technology development corporation to build and manage key strategic broadband infrastructure and attract cloud based companies to Hawaii; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds to the Hawaii technology development corporation to establish an open access, carrier neutral cable landing station to support the Hawaii broadband initiative.

     SECTION 2.  The Hawaii technology development corporation shall seek to establish a public-private partnership with a private organization to plan, build, and manage key strategic broadband infrastructure that benefits the State and attract cloud based companies to utilize this key strategic broadband infrastructure.

     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 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the Hawaii broadband initiative and the establishment of an open access, carrier neutral cable landing station.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii technology development corporation for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2112.

 

Report Title:

Hawaii Technology Development Corporation; Public-private Partnership; Open Access; Hawaii Broadband Initiative; Carrier Neutral Cable Landing Station; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the Hawaii technology development corporation to seek to establish a public-private partnership to plan, build, and manage key strategic broadband infrastructure and attract cloud based companies to Hawaii.  Makes an appropriation for the Hawaii broadband initiative and to establish an open access, carrier neutral cable landing station.  Takes effect 7/1/2112.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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