HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-11-15 Rebecca Lieberman Testimony Bill 194
From:Lieberman, Rebecca J
To:LPCtestimony
Subject:11/21 Leeward Planning Commission - Charter Communications written testimony
Date:Friday, November 15, 2024 11:46:50 AM
Attachments:Charter Communications_LPC_Comments on Bill 194_11.15.24.pdf
Aloha,
Please see attached Charter Communication’s written testimony for agenda item #8 on tomorrow’s
Windward Planning Commission Agenda.
Mahalo,
Rebecca
Rebecca Lieberman | Director, State Government Affairs - Hawaii
Mobile: (808) 481-1007
Office: (808) 695-3154
151 Palii Street, Mililani, HI 96789
Stay Connected: Visit us online at Policy.Charter.com and on X @CharterGov.
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Director
State Government Affairs
November 15, 2024
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Leeward Planning Commission
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3
Hilo, HI 96720
Re: County Council Initiated Bill 194 - (PL-CCI-2024-000009)
Dear Chair DeFranco and Commissioners,
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the County Council initiated Bill 194 to amend Chapter 25,
Articles 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7 of the Hawai'i County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended) relating to
telecommunication antennas and towers ("Bill 194").
with state and federal law and the effects it will have on broadband deployment.
First,
for the regulation of the small wireless facilities in the County. See Haw. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 206N-1 206N-10. Bill
No. 194 expands the defin
applicable to large format macro-wireless towers. That expansion is in direct contradiction to State law, which
or zoning approval if they are deployed: (1) in the right of way in any zone; or (2) outside the right of way in
-4.
-
technical or operational basis - including
wireline facilities and network hardware
Federal law. If adopted, Bill No. 194 has the real potential to lead to the illogical, and unlawful, result that
deploy its facilities in the public rights of way, and to use those facilities for both cable and non-cable services,
pursuant to its cable franchise and the federal Cable Act. In addition, Section 5 of Bill No. 194 introduces a
plethora of new siting constraints, preconditions, and clearances into the application process, several of which are
unnecessary, burdensome, counterproductive and potentially in conflict with applicable law.
Bill No. 194 would have a significant negative impact on deployment on equipment essential to providing services,
including broadband access, to communities throughout the County of Hawaii. Both the state and county have
made deployment of broadband services a priority in recent years and Bill No. 194 undermines those goals.
As the largest broadband provider in the state, Charter supports efforts to expand broadband access. Charter
believes that every Hawaii resident should have reliable access to the Internet. We will continue to help bring the
benefits of broadband and access to the internet to those who need it most. From 2021-23, Charter extended its
network to reach an additional 36,000 homes and small businesses in the State, investing more than $296 million
s Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB) and
151 PALII STREET, MILILANI, HI 96789 h 808.695.3154 a 808.481.1007
Rebecca.Lieberman@charter.com
wĻĬĻĭĭğ \[źĻĬĻƩƒğƓ
Director
State Government Affairs
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The EBB and the ACP helped connect over 60,000 eligible households in
the State with high-speed broadband during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ultimately, Bill No. 194 conflicts with state law and creates ambiguity leading to the potential for conflict with
federal law.
Thank you for the opportunity to express our concerns on Bill No. 194. If you have any questions, please feel free
to contact me at (808) 481-1007 or via email at Rebecca.Lieberman@charter.com.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Lieberman
Director, State Government Affairs Hawaii
151 PALII STREET, MILILANI, HI 96789 h 808.695.3154 a 808.481.1007
Rebecca.Lieberman@charter.com