HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 003 2019/01/08 2018-2020 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
DATE: January 8, 2019 Re: Comm. No. 14/Res. 21-19
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawai`i
TIME: 10:30 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 21-19,reports as follows:
Resolution No. 21-19, transmitted by Finance Director Deanna Sako, via Communication No. 14 dated
November 30, 2018, authorizes the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the State of Hawai`i
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.
This resolution provides $100,000 from Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to the
Department of Information Technology to fund its Hi-WiFi project to increase access to affordable
internet and broadband services in unserved and underserved areas in Hawai`i County.
Jules Ung, Director of Information Technology(IT), gave a brief description of the HI-Wi-Fi program.
Last year IT approached the Council of each district for suggested locations for Wifi hotspots atCounty
facilities in each of the districts. Ms. Ung stated the information was reviewed for feasibility and
practicality. IT will leverage existing infrastructure by using funds from the Department of Commerce
and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) and Spectrum to put up pilot test sites. The first sites will be in
Hamakua, mainly in Honoka`a and Pa`auilo, and if these are successful and based on statistics show a
lot of public accessing the hotspots, then more locations will be put up. The feedback from last year was
put into a spreadsheet,which will be updated based on the Council's preferences for future test sites, as
well.
Council Member Ashley Kierkiewicz inquired as to how the internet will be made available at these
public facilities. She asked if they would be at a park or a gym and whether the public would then be
able to plug into a WiFi hotspot. Ms. Ung responded that location will be based on the feasibility of
existing infrastructure at the facility, and the device can even be installed on a utility pole nearby.
Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 21-18, and
recommends its adoption.
dmm
AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG X
DAVID x COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
EOFF X
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X -�
KIERKIEWICZ X4111160w._ = �.
LEE LOY X
POINDEXTER X MAILE MEDEIR I S I)AVID, CHAIR
RICHARDS X FC REPORT NO.: 3
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: JAN 2 3 2019