PD BACKGROUND REPORT (PL-USE-2023-000020)

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industry have made wireless communication more affordable to the general public.The wired infrastructure that was once used to connect a telephone to the phone system has evolved to include the world wide web and internet. The world wide web and internet uses the telephone infrastructure to transfer digital data from one computer to another.Thus.everything from simple teN-t messages to high level banking and commerce transactions can be conducted almost instantaneously. In the near future_the changes in technology and the wireless industry may make wireless access to the internet more widely affordable and/or available.As of August 7, 1998,the entire island of Hawaii had 100 per cent digital switching. Digital switching is significant because it enables the existing telephone infrastructure to accommodate high-speed data transfers and access to many of the latest telecommunication services and features. Currently.every region on the island has access to phone service. In 1998,the last rural areas restricted to party line service were upgraded with additional telephone cables allowing single line services island wide. Advances in fiber optic technology provide the backbone for the island's high- capacity broadband requirements and the necessary services for specialized users such as the telescopes atop Mauna Kea. Furthermore,frame relay, Asynchronous Transfer Mode(ATM)and internet services are transmitted via Verizon Hawaii's fiber optic network. Currently,high speed internet connections such as Digital Subscriber Lines(DSL)are only available in certain areas on the island.However_these services are bound to expand.Advances in telecommunications are not without cost or concerns. One such concern is the construction and location of telecommunication towers. Telecommunication towers are the physical structures to which antennas are attached to facilitate wireless communication. Because of the need for a clear line-of-site,telecommunication towers are usuallv located in areas with minimum obstructions between the tower and its area of service.Linc-of--site refers to the imaginary line between a mobile phone antenna and a telecommunication tower. If there are impediments between the mobile phone antenna and the telecommunication tower_there may be signal degradation or signal loss. For example.the loss of line-of--sight occurs when a person uses a mobile phone while driving through a tunnel. Most often,communication is lost or unclear. The line-of-sight requirement often necessitates the conspicuous location of many telecommunication towers. Consequently,the telecommunications tower is usuallv much taller than the surrounding structures or vegetation and may negatively impact the scenic nature of a given area. Currently there are over 95,000 switched telephone connections in service on the island. The State Public Utilities Commission regulates telephone service statewide. 11.3.2 Policies(a) Encourage underground telephone lines where they are economically and technically feasible. (b)Work with the telecommunications industm to increase the availability of emergency telephones throughout the island. (c) Develop standards for the construction of wireless telecommunication facilities. (d)Work closely with the telephone company to provide all users with efficient service. 11.3.3 Standard(a)In the development and placement of telephone facilities, such as lines. telecommunications and cellular towers, poles,and substations_the design of the facilities shall consider the existing environment,and scenic view and vistas shall be considered and preserved where possible." This application is consistent with the intent and purpose of the County's Zoning Code and General Plan. 9 � � _