HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	118
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO DEVELOP AND ADOPT AN EFFICIENT, STREAMLINED PROCESS FOR REVIEWING ELECTRIC UTILITIES' REQUESTS TO PROVIDE MIDDLE MILE BROADBAND SERVICES IN FURTHERANCE OF THE STATE'S EFFORTS TO EXPEDITE BROADBAND ACCESS AND EQUITY AND PROMOTE EXPEDITIOUS BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT TO AREAS OF THE STATE THAT ARE UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic made clear the importance of broadband equity to ensure fair access to telework, telemedicine, and remote learning opportunities for the people of Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, electric utilities across the nation increasingly rely on their telecommunications infrastructure to support modern grid operations and manage increasing volumes of distributed energy resources, which requires electric utilities to modernize their grids to include robust and diverse telecommunications infrastructure; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State's regulated electric utilities are well positioned to help bridge the digital divide by leveraging their excess capacity telecommunications infrastructure to provide middle mile broadband services, which could enable internet service providers to offer services to communities that are otherwise cost-prohibitive to reach; and

 

     WHEREAS, the middle mile method is a common sense approach to addressing the digital divide as it represents a more cost-effective way for internet service providers to offer broadband in low- to moderate-income, hard-to-reach communities; and

 

     WHEREAS, the expansion of broadband services is in line with the State's current efforts to expedite the deployment of broadband and is also in line with related national legislation; and

 

     WHEREAS, on November 9, 2021, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners issued a resolution that underscores the importance of electric utilities' role in broadband expansion through the utilization of existing telecommunication infrastructure; and

 

     WHEREAS, public utilities in the State are able to efficiently provide foundational and diverse middle mile broadband services to internet service providers and other third parties without duplicating efforts, congesting the right-of-way or view plane, or increasing costs to the consumer; and

 

     WHEREAS, this method allows electric utilities and internet service providers to form partnerships; and

 

     WHEREAS, existing law provides multiple layers of protection to ensure that an electric utility does not favor itself or its affiliates or cross-subsidize any of its activities with ratepayers' funds, while also providing maximum value to the ratepayer; and

 

     WHEREAS, in conjunction with the Federal Communications Commission's authority and Federal Pole Attachment Act, the Public Utilities Commission exercises authority over electric utilities that own distribution poles, requiring that the electric utilities provide non-discriminatory access to their poles and comply with strict federal timelines and regulations governing pole attachments; and

 

     WHEREAS, this body supports electric utilities' efforts to provide middle mile broadband service to internet service providers and other third parties to facilitate digital equity and promote expeditious broadband deployment to all areas of the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, an expedited review process by the Public Utilities Commission to provide middle mile broadband services would help address the growing need for access to broadband and enable equitable access to telework, telemedicine, remote learning, and participation in the digital economy; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, the Senate concurring, that the Public Utilities Commission is urged to develop and adopt an efficient, streamlined process for reviewing electric utilities' requests to provide middle mile broadband services, as authorized under section 269-19, Hawaii Revised Statutes, in furtherance of the State's efforts to expedite broadband access and equity and promote expeditious broadband deployment to areas of the State that are unserved and underserved; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission; Executive Director of the Division of Consumer Advocacy; President and Chief Executive Officer of Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; and Chief Executive Officer of Kauai Island Utility Cooperative.

Report Title: 

Middle Mile Broadband Services; Infrastructure; Electric Utilities; Public Utilities Commission