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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-02-23 Letter to Rosalyn Baker RE SB760, SD1 / SB1201, SD1 -'Mtv.os p ' cPc� ' '''''. Wil Okabe 101,/7‘ •rManaging Director Harry Kim Mayor • - Barbara J.Kossow Deputy Managing Director fOS M�' (gouttfu. ofatl c- Offirr of tip Cltavrar 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.,Bldg.C • Kailua-Kona,Hawai`i 96740 (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 February 23, 2017 Senator Rosalyn Baker Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health Hawai'i State Capitol Honolulu, HI 96813 Dear Chairs Baker and Tokuda, and members: RE: SB 760, SD 1, SB 1201, SD 1 Thank you for this opportunity to testify against SB 760, SDI, and SB 1201, SD1 in their present form, but to urge further consideration. SB 760, SD1, and SB 1201, SDI deal with the installation of telecommunication facilities on county-owned property. They are complicated, far reaching in scope, and raise substantial questions related to fairness and public safety. Fortunately, our concerns are mirrored by the State and the other counties, and we trust that the legislative process will yield a satisfactory result. While we are not well positioned to negotiate the details of these bills, it is our understanding that the City and County of Honolulu is working with the telecommunication companies to find common ground. We look forward to the outcome of those discussions. Primary among numerous concerns we have is that, if these bills were to pass in their present form, the County could not adequately protect against the overburdening of its equipment, which could cause interference with the County's existing equipment or system. The bills raise concerns because they say actions relating to the installation, construction, development, or improvement of broadband networks will be exempt from County permitting requirements. The bills do not state that an entity seeking to install or construct equipment for a broadband network must apply with the State or an affected utility or County, but instead provide that an entity proposing such an action must post County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Rosalyn Baker Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health February 23, 2017 notice of this intent on the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affair's website. These bills also allow "utilities" (but not the State or counties) to reject an application to co-locate if collocation is going to overburden existing equipment. In addition, coerced co-location could interfere with the County's existing and prospective contractual relations, as some County "structures" are on leased or licensed properties that do not allow collocation without a landowner's consent, and landowners may be hesitant to let the County have a structure on their properties if doing so will allow any and all small wireless facilities or small wireless facilities networks to be placed on their properties without their consent. Co-location raises security concerns, concerns about existing equipment being damaged by allowing private entities to do installation and other work on County sites, and concerns about increased use and wear-and-tear on existing structures, equipment, and access routes to rural sites. The bills do not a) grant counties immunity for private entities accessing and using county property, b) allow the counties to recoup costs due to a small wireless facility or network's use of counties' utilities, or c) expressly allow counties to require companies that are accessing or using a county's property to assume liability for any damages to existing equipment or structures and to defend and indemnify a county for any such damages. If the final bill doesn't define "structure," it could be read to allow wireless equipment to be placed on any County owned or operated building. SB 760, SD1 totally exempts wireless equipment from any County permits. It requires the wireless companies to provide notice prior to installation to the DCCA but not to an affected county. It allows utilities to reject applications but doesn't provide counties that authority and doesn't have any process for applications. It requires wireless companies to comply with "applicable safety and engineering requirements", but that would be difficult for us to check with no prior notice or permitting process. SB 760, SD1 would also seem to limit collocation charges to $20 annually—a giveaway that does not seem to reflect proper stewardship of the public trust. Staff did some brief research and did not see other states giving away public land so freely. Washington State, for instance, has a schedule of fees and regulations in place that looks like a better balance protecting public land. For the above reasons, we cannot support the current drafts. County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Rosalyn Baker Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health February 23, 2017 At an absolute minimum, we would ask that any bill that passes provide that an entity proposing the installation, construction, development, or improvement of broadband networks must file a written request to do so with the State and affected county, and allow the counties to reject an application if the proposed installation might interfere with or overburden existing equipment. Please assure that these bills do not become law without a good deal of further discussion and amendment. A very real danger to public safety could inadvertently result if, for instance, civil defense operations or emergency and first responder networks were compromised by the anticipated new installations. Respectfully submitted, 1 Harry Kim Mayor County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.