Bill Text: HI SCR137 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requesting The Public Utilities Commission To Monitor Compliance With The Federal Communications Commission Mandates For The Deployment Of Backup Power Generators For Wireless Communications Providers And Collect And Publish Data On Cellular Tower Backup Capacity.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 16-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-04-05 - Referred to IAC, CPC, referral sheet 50 [SCR137 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-SCR137-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	137
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

Requesting the public utilities commission to monitor compliance with the federal communications commission mandates for the deployment of backup power generators for wireless communications providers and collect and publish data on cellular tower backup capacity.

 

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's rural communities are increasingly reliant on wireless voice communications via wireless communications providers; and

 

     WHEREAS, in order to deliver reliable communications service during utility power outages, it is necessary for wireless communications providers to have resilient backup power; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Federal Communications Commission adopted rules on August 6, 2015, to require each provider of a covered service, which is any facilities-based, fixed voice service offered as residential service, including fixed applications of wireless service offered as a residential service, that is not line powered, to offer subscribers, at the point of sale of the covered service, the option to purchase backup power for the covered service; and

 

     WHEREAS, the adopted rules provide a delayed effective date for providers of covered services with fewer than 100,000 domestic retail subscriber lines; however, some wireless communications providers in rural areas in the State have not fully complied with these Federal Communications Commission mandates; and

 

     WHEREAS, given the potential for natural disasters and other emergencies to significantly affect wireless communication capabilities, this body finds that compliance with the mandates should be accelerated and even expanded to require that the backup power to be obtained from renewable energy sources; and

 

     WHEREAS, in addition, this body finds that more data and transparency are necessary to enable the public to make informed decisions when selecting a wireless communications provider; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to monitor compliance with the Federal Communications Commission mandates for the deployment of backup power generators for wireless communications providers; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to collect data and publish statistics on cellular tower backup capacity, including the overall percentages of the cellular towers that are backed up with generators or batteries; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Utilities Commission is requested to organize this data by each wireless communications provider, which promotes transparency and gives the public additional information when choosing a wireless communications provider; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all wireless communications providers operating in the State are requested to comply with the Federal Communications Commission mandates for backup power sources for cellular towers, prioritizing renewable energy sources; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Commissioners of the Public Utilities Commission, and Administrator of the Hawaii State Energy Office.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Public Utilities Commission; Wireless Communications Provider; Backup Power Source; Power Resilience; Cellular Tower Backup Capacity