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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0110.112 2024-2026From: AnnissaKeed Sent: Monday, April 14,20251ll>3AK8 To: Council Testimony Subject: Bill 24: Wireless Industry Testimony Attachments: Bill 24 Wireless industry testimony.pdf Good morning, On behalf of various organizations representingthe wiretess industry, I respectfuLty submit the attached comments onBiii24. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. ���IIw* & 0a Annissa Reed Director, State and Local Affairs I400I6mStreet, NVV Washington, DC 20036 202-735-7244 • ctia", 0 00.a * April 14, 2025 The Honorable Ashley Kierkiewicz Chair, Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Economic Development County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720 RE: Bill 24 — Amends Chapter 25 of the Hawaii County Code, Relating to Telecommunication Antennas and Towers (Planning Director Initiated) Dear Chair Kierkiewicz and members of the Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Economic Development: We write to you today as industry stakeholders who build, operate, and maintain the infrastructure that provides wireless services Hawaii Island residents heavily rely upon every day. While we appreciate the desire to update the zoning code as it relates to new wireless facilities, we remain concerned that certain provisions of Bill 24, as currently drafted, will unnecessarily hinder our ability to provide reliable and quality wireless services. As the committee continues to consider Bill 24, we want to reiterate many of our comments from our February 3, 2025 written testimony, including the importance of aligning with state and federal law. This includes bill provisions that unnecessarily limit the placement of wireless infrastructure and could have the effect of prohibiting the provision of personal wireless service, which is contrary to federal law. I A zoning code that applicants can realistically comply with and that the Planning Department can enforce is critical for improving access to connectivity across Hawaii Island. Establishing such a code is helpful in setting clear expectations for applicants, the Department, and the community while still encouraging the industry to continue to improve connectivity for Hawaii Island residents. We urge the committee to keep the role wireless providers play in fostering connectivity across Hawaii Island in mind. In emergency situations, a simple call or text message can make the difference between life and death. In 2022, almost 82 percent of 9-1-1 calls (over 1 million 147 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)(i)(II); Sprint Spectrum L.P. v. Ringwood Zoning Board, 898 A.2d 1054, 1059 (2005). calls) made in Hawaii came from a wireless phone.2 With 76% of adults living in homes without a landline phone,3 increasing opportunities for remote work, increasing access to health care via telehealth, and so many essential tools we use every day moving to wireless applications, promoting a robust high -capacity wireless communications network is more important than ever to support healthy, thriving communities. We appreciate your attention to our concerns and remain available to support this process in achieving a comprehensive ordinance that benefits everyone on Hawaii Island. Sincerely, CTIA WIA AT&T Crown Castle T-Mobile Verizon "911 Stats & Data," National 911 Program, 9 t 1 Statistics 6L, I?aL, 1)1 ] .g )v 3 National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey Early Release Programs, Wireless Substitution: Early Release of Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, July -December 2023, released June 2024, available at: relca5e%�,vireles,�?02406.Iclt.