2017-03-17 Letter to Clarence K Nishihara and Glenn Wakai re HB 625, HD 3 relating to Infrastructure

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•• .?!....., Wil Okabe Managing Director Harry Kim Mayor Barbara J.Kossow - 0.• 0. Deputy Managing Director '• .ei;.AO.- ••. • County of Agurail (Mire of tilt Aim' 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Me Keohokalole Hwy.,Bldg.C • Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740 (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 March 17, 2017 Senator Clarence K. Nishihara, Chair Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental & Military Affairs Hawai'i State Capitol Honolulu, HI 96813 Senator Glenn Wakai, Chair Committee on Economic Development, Tourism & Technology Hawai'i State Capitol Honolulu, HI 96813 Dear Chair Nishihara, Chair Wakai, and Committee members: RE: HB 625, HD 3 Relating to Infrastructure Thank you for this opportunity to testify against HB 625, HD 3. Over the past weeks, there have been numerous drafts of legislation trying to facilitate the deployment of high-speed broadband infrastructure. We have raised objections to various aspects of those drafts, but each time we have suggested that the bills be kept alive for further discussion. It now is becoming more and more evident that the issues are simply too complex to expect them to be resolved this session. At this point, we would urge that no bill pass this session, and that the Legislature set up a mechanism (by Joint Resolution, study by the Auditor, or some other approach) for further discussion in the interim, with a consensus bill to be presented to next year's Legislature. The installation of telecommunication facilities on county-owned or State- owned property is complicated, far reaching in scope, and raises substantial questions related to fairness and public safety. Our concerns are mirrored by the State and the other counties, and with numerous private sector voices compounding the number of perspectives that must be accommodated, we trust that the legislative process will yield a satisfactory result, but only if given substantially more time. County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.