SB1161 Summary

• Exempts broadband infrastructure installation, improvement, and construction from state and county permitting requirements from January 1, 2012 to January 1, 2017, provided the work occurs within existing rights-of-way, easements, or uses existing telecommunications infrastructure without significant changes.

• Prohibits requiring utility pole upgrades or replacements when installing or improving telecommunications cables, subject to conditions including that weight load does not increase, does not exceed FCC and Hawaii Public Utilities Commission safety limits, and the pole is not damaged.

• Allows public utilities and broadband providers to recover prudently incurred costs for planning, engineering, construction, installation, or replacement of utility poles.

• Requires utilities to grant or deny access to utility poles within 45 days of a written request, with denials requiring specific written explanation citing capacity, safety, reliability, or engineering standards.

• Directs the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to review broadband deployment and exemption effectiveness by January 1, 2016, and recommend to the 2016 legislature whether to extend these exemptions.