HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-11-18 Elizabeth Songvilay From: SONGVILAY,ELIZABETH
To: LPCtestimonv
Subject: Nov 21 Leeward Planning Commission-Agenda#9
Date: Monday,November 18,2024 4:35:42 PM
Attachments: Nov 21 Leeward Planning Commission Wireless Industry testimony Bill 194.1)df
Aloha,
Please seethe attached written testimony for Agenda #9(PL-CCI-2024-000009) (Bill 194)from
the wireless industryforthe Nov. 21 Leeward Plan ningCommission meeting.
Mahalo,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Songvilay
Director,External Affairs—Hawai`i,Alaska
AT&T External&Legislative Affairs
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AT&T CCRN
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November 18, 2024
Leeward Planning Commission
County of Hawaii
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Re: November 21, 2024 Agenda Item 99 (PL-CCI-2024-000009)
Dear Chair DeFranco and Leeward Planning Commissioners,
As providers of wireless services to residents, businesses and visitors across Hawaii Island, we
write to concur with the Planning Director's unfavorable recommendation of Bill 194. As stated
by the Planning Department' and in comments submitted by the wireless industry included in the
Department's report, many of the new requirements proposed by Bill 194 extend beyond the
Zoning Code's authority or are preempted by federal law.
To provide services that wireless customers can continue to rely upon each day, reasonable
zoning requirements and permit review timelines are essential. Bill 194 would put the industry's
ability to provide wireless services unnecessarily at risk by creating a regulatory framework that
is over-reaching, nearly impossible to comply with, and out of compliance with applicable
federal regulations.
The construction of new telecommunication facilities is typically initiated in response to
increased wireless data traffic and user demand. In 2023, Americans used more than 100 trillion
megabytes of data, the largest single-year increase ever and double that of two years ago. This
increase in demand comes from a proliferation of wireless devices (e.g., security/weather
cameras, smartwatches, and GPS systems), as well as enhanced technological capabilities that
require more network data to provide important daily services (e.g., livestreaming,
videoconferencing, and telehealth services).
Further, as the Hawaii County Police Department notes, telecommunications facilities are
critical for public safety. In addition to providing wireless services for first responders, our
facilities provide access to 9-1-1 services that deliver emergency help more quickly and
1 BR-CC Initiated-Telecommunication Towers and Antennas.doc 9/16/24.
2 CTIA,"2024 Annual Survey Highlights," Sept. 10,2024,httys://www.ctia.org/news/2024-annual-surva-
hi hlg ights.
effectively, regardless of the service provider.3 To highlight the importance of wireless access to
9-1-1 service, in 2022, over 80 percent of 9-1-1 calls (over 1 million calls) made in Hawaii
came from a wireless phone.4
We appreciate the desire within the County to update the county code as it relates to wireless
facilities and look forward to working with the Planning Department, County Council, and other
stakeholders on achieving the County's goals without compromising deployment of wireless
services.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide written testimony.
Sincerely,
CTIA
WIA
AT&T
Crown
T-Mobile
Verizon
3 A wireless facility would be critical for 9-1-1 access if it is the only available facility in the area. See"911
Reliability,"Federal Communications Commission,https://www.fcc.gov/911-reliability. "Wireless,wireline,and
interconnected VOIP service providers must connect all 911 calls and transmit the caller's location information to
911 call centers."
4,,911 Stats&Data,"National 911 Program, 911 Statistics&Data 191 Lgov.