The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutRES 098 Draft 02 2000-2002 COUNTY OF I-IAW~`I ST`AT O~ I~WAI`I RESOLUTION NO. d~ (Draft 2) A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICE PROJECT. WHEREAS, the current world economy is driven by high-technology, and advances in this technology are the result of many brilliant discoveries and inventions, but the ability to use fiber optic transmission lines is one of the most important factors in the evolution of this technological revolution; and WHEREAS, today's glass fiber optic cable offers almost unlimited bandwidth and unique advantages -including much larger data carrying capacity at higher transmission speeds over much longer distances -which makes it far superior to all previously developed types of transmission lines; and WHEREAS, any high-tech economic development possibilities in Hawaii County and other counties in the state will depend on fiber optic transmission infrastructure being in place to transmit and receive data, including digital data; and WHEREAS, the State Department of Hawaiian Homes Lands ("DHHL") is undertaking a project to provide fiber optic transmission lines to connect, between islands by undersea cables and on the islands through underground infrastructures, the six major islands, linking all Hawaiian Homes Lands ("HHL") in the state; and WHEREAS, a native Hawaiian-owned and operated company, Sandwich Isles Communications, Inc. ("SIC"), has obtained a Public Utilities Commission ("PUC") Certificate of Authority to service HHL as a defined geographic service area, has been designated by the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") as a rural telephone company, and has been granted a license by DHHL to undertake this project; and WHEREAS, the capital outlays for this project will come from private sources and the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service ("RUS"), through aloes-cost loan program; and WHEREAS, a minimum of $500 million, including $100 million for the construction of a 330 mile transmission line in Hawaii County, will be spent over the next three to five years to build, connect, and service all HHL parcels with a modern high-speed fiber optic cable infrastructure at no cost to DHHL; and WHEREAS, the project will: (1) provide HHL with an independent, new and modernized telecommunications infrastructure with access to advanced systems; (2) create immediate and future construction and high-tech jobs; and (3) create or attract new high-tech and other businesses to HHL, the State and the counties; and _ WHEREAS, this project will provide affordable telecommunications services for families on Hawaiian Homes Lands throughout the State, which will enable families to have access to information over ahigh-speed broadband network, and utilize services such as distance learning, telemedicine, and video conferencing. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII: 1. That it fully supports the efforts of the State Department of Hawaiian Homes Lands Telecommunications Infrastructure and Services Project; and 2. That it encourages the County of Hawaii to provide access to public rights of way that is needed to connect Hawaiian Homes Lands parcels to the project infrastructure. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT the County Clerk of the County of Hawaii is directed to transmit copies of this resolution to the Honorable Harry Kim, Mayor of the County of Hawaii; Mr. Albert Hee, President of Sandwich Isles Communications, Inc; and Mr. Raynard Soon, Chairman, Department of Hawaiian Homes Lands, State of Hawaii. Dated at Hilo, Hawaii this 6th day of July , 2001 INTRODUCED BY: /U COUNCIL EMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE County of Hawaii AYES NOES ABS Ex Hilo, Hawaii ARAKAKI CHUNG R [ hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by ELARIONOFF X The vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the JACOBSON County of Hawaii on .7i~1 ~ fi, ?Q01 X LE[THEAD-TODD X PISICCHIO X ATTEST: SAFARIK X 1 TYLER X ~ ~ YAGONG X 9 0 0 0 Reference: C-254.1LP/Council ; COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. ~ (Draft 2)