Senate Committee on Economic Development and Technology (EDT) - chair: Carol Fukunaga, vice chair: Glenn Wakai Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection (CPN) - chair: Rosalyn H. Baker, vice chair: Brian T. Taniguchi

Friday, March 16, 2012, 1:15 p.m. Conference Room 016

Testifier: Jean Aoki, Legislative Committee, LWV of Hawaii

Click here to view HB2325, HD2

Chair Fukunaga, Chair Baker, Vice Chair Wakai, Vice Chair Taniguchi, members of EDT and CPN, While we have no expertise in permitting laws, we look with askance at allowing applications for any projects funded by taxpayers to be deemed approved without any action by those in position to make the judgments if action is not taken within a given time. HB 2325, HD2 is more disturbing because it allows applications for broadband related permits to be deemed approved if no action is taken within what seems like a very brief amount of time, especially since the permits are for actions like “installation, improvement, construction, or development of infrastructure relating to broadband service or broadband technology including the interconnection of telecommunications cables, cable installation, tower construction, undersea boring, or the landing of an undersea cable. Then there is the provision that “No action shall be prosecuted or maintained against the State, its officials, or employees on account of actions taken in reviewing, approving modifying, or disapproving a permit application.” While it is true that many a project is delayed because of seemingly unnecessary court challenges, wouldn't this provision plus the allowance of approval of permits without any action remove all accountability on the part of government and not allow public input in activities that impact the natural or urban environments. Please give this bill serious thought before approving it. Thank you for allowing us to testify on this bill.