THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	63
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

urging hawaiian telcom to address the lack of fiber optic BROADBAND cable redundancy on THE ISLAND OF hawaii.

 

 

 

WHEREAS, fiber optic broadband cable is critical infrastructure needed to ensure Hawaii's public health and safety, as well as the continuous provision of education and other public services; and

 

WHEREAS, fiber optic broadband cable is also critical to the State's advancement in research, innovation, and economic diversification; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's fiber optic broadband cable needs are primarily serviced by two wired carriers, Hawaiian Telcom and Spectrum, and by a number of wireless providers, such as Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless, and Sprint; and

 

     WHEREAS, according to the Hawaii Broadband Strategic Plan, fiber optic broadband cable communications systems are used in almost all of the telecommunications network systems operated in Hawaii to provide both the interisland and on-island backbone for the State's telecommunications infrastructure; and

 

     WHEREAS, the bulk of the Island of Hawaii's fiber optic broadband cable infrastructure must be installed above ground on utility poles, placing it at risk for damage from vehicles, extreme weather, or other catastrophe, thus creating a strong need for network redundancy; and

 

     WHEREAS, there is a known gap in the fiber optic broadband cable system on the Island of Hawaii that spans twenty-two miles from Volcano to Pahala; and

 

     WHEREAS, in September 2014, the breakage of a single Hawaiian Telcom fiber optic broadband cable on the Island of Hawaii created a massive internet outage that lasted nearly twenty hours and left residents without phone service; and

 

     WHEREAS, during the September 2014 outage, the safety and security of the entire Island of Hawaii was put at risk; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, that Hawaiian Telcom is urged to complete the system of fiber optic broadband cabling on the Island of Hawaii in order to provide redundancy during an emergency; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Administrator of the Cable Television Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Fiber Optic Broadband Cable; Hawaii Tel-Com; Critical Infrastructure; Emergency; Redundancy