WIRELESSLEGISLATION FROM THE STATE OF HAWAII
HOUSE BILL 2146
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO EMERGENCYTELEPHONE SERVICE.
SECTION 1. Section 269-16.95,Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) toread as follows:
“(a) A public utilityproviding local exchange telecommunications services shallbe permitted to MAY recover the capital cost andassociated operating expenses for the first year ofproviding a statewide enhanced 911 emergency telephone servicein the public switched telephone network, through a:
(1) A telephone linesurcharge; or the next
(2) ITS rate case,whichever occurs first. Thereafter, the remaining capital costsand any additional capital costs shall be added to the rate baseand recovered along with the associated operating expensesthrough local telephonerates of the public utility.”
SECTION 2. Statutory material tobe repealed is struck. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall takeeffect upon its approval.
WIRELESSLEGILATION FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII
SENATE BILL 1814
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO EMERGENCY TELEPHONESERVICE.
NOTICE:
TEXT: BE IT ENACTED BY THELEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Section 269-16.95,Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) toread as follows:
“(a) A public utilityproviding local exchange telecommunications services shall bepermitted to recover the capital cost and associated operatingexpenses for the first year of providing astatewide enhanced 911 emergency telephone service in the publicswitched telephone network, through a telephone line surcharge orthe next ITS rate case, whicheveroccurs first. Thereafter, the remaining capital costs and anyadditional capital costs shall be added to the rate base andrecovered along with the associated operating expenses throughlocal telephone rates of that public utility “
SECTION 2. Statutory material tobe repealed is struck. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall takeeffect upon its approval.
WIRELESSLEGISLATION FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII
SENATE BILL 1249
A BILL FOR AN ACT
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO UPGRADETHE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM OF THE HAWAII COUNTY POLICEDEPARTMENT.
TEXT: BE IT ENACTED BY THELEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII.
Section 1. The legislature findsthat there is a critical need to upgrade thetelecommunications? system of the Hawaii county policedepartment to enhance public and police officer safety. The needis evidenced by deficiencies in the present communicationssystem, in the area of inadequate radio coverage, due in part tothe distinctive geography of the island, punctuated with theunique topography of the island?s many valleys andmountains. The existing system?s unreliability, theinability to restore the system in a timely manner, and channelcongestion are also major concerns. Secondary to these problemsare the system?s lack of voice security, multiple channelsrequired to cover a single district, sporadic in-building servicewith hand-held two-way radio units, and the overall poor qualityof radio communication in specific locations. There are aninsufficient number of non-interfering frequencies available inthe present communications band to resolve these problems.Coupled with these inherent problems of the existing system, thecounty of Hawaii is mandated to make changes in the present radiosystem, as a result of the Federal Communication Commission rulesunder part 88, known as the “Refarming Act” and theFederal Communication Commission reallocation of the 2 Ghz.Microwave (which the county of Hawaii is presently utilizing) toprivate communications services. The need to upgrade the countyof Hawaii police telecommunications? system is furtherneeded as evidenced by the overall growth of the population andvisitors to the island of Hawaii and the ever increasing numberof calls for police service via the E-911 emergencytelephone system. The most viable solution to theseproblems is to upgrade the existing system by acquiring a modern800-MHZ trunked radio system, coupled with a digital microwave”backbone”. The salient reasons for having this type ofsystem are:
The 800-MHZ frequency band has an adequate number of radio channels assigned specifically for public safety;
Hawaii county, itself, has already been allocated 800-MHZ channels as part of the State of Hawaii 800-MHZ regional plan, which has been approved by the Federal Communication Commission. Since the allocation is exclusively for public safety, it provides a very low potential for radio interference and increased channel privacy; and
The 800-MHZ trunking technology makes possible much more efficient utilization of the radio spectrum, greatly enhanced functional capabilities, the quickest availability of new technology, and extensive interoperability among different departments or agencies operating on the system. Trunking not only offers frequency efficiency, but will provide maximum flexibility for multiple users, operational application, expansion capability, flexibility for restructuring, protection from loss of an individual repeater, and other multiple features, including the capability of having mobile data terminals. The trunking system will overcome the limitations of the existing radio system and permit future growth. The legislature recognizes that this telecommunications? system would be instrumental in coordinating the response by county, state, and federal agencies in disaster or other emergency situations. Acquiring a new loop microwave system, developing additional radio sites, renovating and/or expanding existing sites is paramount as infrastructure is essential for the success of the new trunking radio systems. Experience has demonstrated that 800-MHZ frequency band is very effective for public safety use. There are thousands of systems in operation on the continental United States and two such systems are presently installed in the State of Hawaii in the county of Kauai and the city and county of Honolulu. The county of Maui is presently in the process of installing their own 800-MHz. Trunking system. The 800-MHz. Trunked radio system can provide a common, integrated radio backbone infrastructure that can be shared by all county, state and federal agencies (i.e., “National Mutual Aid Calling Channels”). Each of the counties in the state of Hawaii that presently operate an 800 ?MHZ system must maintain an independent radio infrastructure to operate on the assigned frequencies within the 800 MHz spectrum. In July of 1995 the Hawaii county council hired a consultant firm, Shema Systems Inc., from Whittier, California which completed an 800-MHz feasibility study. The study encompassed an analysis of the present radio operations, including the existing microwave system and radio facilities. The study also pointed out the deficiencies and the needs and requirements of the individual departments that utilize the system. It also provided an in-depth analysis and conversion costs for transforming the existing VHF system to an 800-MHz trunked system. The purpose of this Act is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds to finance an 800-MHz trunked system for the County of Hawaii.
SECTION 2. The director of financeis authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the followingsums, or so much thereof as may be necessary, and the same sums,or so much thereof as may be necessary to finance the projectslisted in this section, are appropriated for fiscal years1997-1998 and 1988-1999 to finance the 800-MHz trunked system forthe County of Hawaii. For detained 800-MHz system engineering,system specifications, bidding and
Consulting engineer $350,000
For equipment, installation, and
Project management $11,656,866
For system/equipment warranty, spare parts,
And trunked system test equipment $492,720
For facilities improvement and new site
Development $1,505,000
For consultant-final and detailed engineering,
System specifications, bidding for 6 Ghz
Digital microwave $125,000
For digital microwave equipment, installation
And project management $5,120,373
For one year system/equipment warranty,
equipment spare parts, spare loop and hot-
standby terminal, system test equipment $542,967
Total funding $19,317.926
SECTION 3. The appropriations madefor the capital improvement projects authorized in this Act shallnot lapse at the end of the fiscal year for which theappropriations are made; provided that all moneys from theappropriations unencumbered as of June 30, 2000, shall lapse asof that date.
SECTION 4. The sum appropriatedshall be expended by the county of Hawaii for the purpose of thisAct.
SECTION 5. This Act shall takeeffect on July 1, 1997.
THE STATE OF HAWAII
SENTATE BILL 1373