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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
41 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE HAWAII BROADBAND AND DIGITAL EQUITY OFFICE TO CONDUCT A DATA MAPPING STUDY TO IDENTIFY GEOGRAPHICALLY UNDERSERVED AND UNSERVED AREAS IN THE STATE THAT LACK QUALITY BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY.
WHEREAS, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) provides publicly available web-based maps from service providers, such as AT&T, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon, to demonstrate 4G LTE coverage throughout the country; and
WHEREAS, many service providers have shared these data maps that boasted coverage with the Legislature to demonstrate the inexistence of underserved and unserved areas in the State; and
WHEREAS, residents of Hawaii island, Molokai, and Hana, Maui have historically experienced disruption in service, dropped calls, and dead areas in rural communities; and
WHEREAS, the experiences of Hawaii residents in rural areas clearly demonstrate that the FCC data maps lack accurate information, data, and geographical knowledge regarding underserved and unserved communities; and
WHEREAS, the State has the responsibility to provide equitable access to broadband internet and service for residents as opportunities continue to arise in the areas of teleworking, distance learning, and telehealth; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office compiles the collective priorities articulated by the Broadband Hui, in alignment with the 2020 Hawaii Broadband Strategic Plan, to set a foundation for collective action among private- and public-sector partners by providing a vision and goals that promote digital equity throughout the State of Hawaii; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office (Office) is requested to conduct a data mapping study to identify geographically underserved and unserved areas in the State that lack quality broadband connectivity; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting its mapping study, the Office is requested to use the broadband definitions of "underserved" and "unserved" in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 2021, Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office is requested to make adjustments, while preserving high granularity, in the mapping to best align with the Federal Communications Commission's Broadband Data Collection program that is scheduled to launch this upcoming summer and is driven by the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act, which allows for upload by organizations in addition to the cable and telecom carriers and includes broadband fabric data to identify every serviceable location in Hawaii; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that as a part of the mapping study, the Office is requested to collect data concerning infrastructure deployment and broadband service in the State from internet service providers to develop mapping information; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office is requested to, if data are available, give special attention to recording cases and addresses where services have been desired or requested by potential customers but not supplied by the carrier; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that as a part of the mapping study, the Office is requested to create a map that identifies geographic areas based on the most recent infrastructure deployment and broadband service data collected or other credible sources used by the Office to identify unserved and underserved areas within a county or other appropriate geographic area; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than December 21, 2023; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Federal Communications Commission; Governor; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Broadband Strategy Officer of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Mayor of the County of Hawaii; Mayor of the County of Maui; Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; Mayor of the County of Kauai; Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of AT&T; Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Verizon; Chairperson of the Board of Directors and President and Chief Executive Officer of T‑Mobile; Chairperson of the Board of Directors and President and Chief Executive Officer of the United States Cellular Corporation; Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Charter Communications; and President and General Manager of Hawaiian Telcom.
Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office; Broadband Connectivity; Data Mapping Survey; Unserved Areas; Underserved Areas