Legislature(2003 - 2004)
05/08/2004 09:04 AM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
CS FOR HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 32(EDT) am
Relating to information infrastructure and establishing the
Alaska Information Infrastructure Policy Task Force.
This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance
Committee.
Co-Chair Wilken stated that this bill, CS HCR 32(EDT)am, Version
23-LS1717\Q.A, is sponsored by Representative Pete Kott at the
request of Economic Development International Trade and Tourism
Committee. Continuing, he noted that the bill would establish as
13-member Alaska information infrastructure taskforce, which would
be charged "with reviewing and analyzing current and long term
information infrastructure needs."
SUE STANCLIFF, Staff to Representative Pete Kott, the bill's
sponsor, reiterated that this "task force would be charged with
consideration of Alaska's role and interest in the long-term
information structure development." She stated that the goal would
be "to provide Alaska's communities with access to broadband
connectivity and provide for improved access to fiber optic
connectivity." These technological advances, she stated, "would
help bridge the divide between rural Alaska from the benefits in
technology advances realized in urban Alaska.
SFC 04 # 112, Side A 10:42 AM
Ms. Stancliff shared that Ireland is a "shining example" of what
benefit could result from public and private partnerships dedicated
to technological advancement, as it is currently the largest
exporter of software products in Europe with 300 leading electronic
companies and nine of the ten top pharmaceutical companies in the
world. She stated that these opportunities "are not out of reach
for Alaska."
Ms. Stancliff stated that the distance between Alaska's communities
and the gaps in the State's infrastructure are exacerbated "by
federal lands, federal land laws, vast distances, and the relative
newness" of the State. Furthermore, she commented that while "no
paved highway may ever connect the regions of the State "to the
outside world… a telecommunications superhighway can link them
all." She declared that "innovation engineering concepts and robust
technologies" could be implemented in the State to assist in
helping "the Alaskan economy evolve into a 21st century economic
powerhouse." She stressed that the proposed task force would be
required to assist in determining "how State government could use
its resources to create an environment in which the private sector
has the incentive to provide information technology usually
broadband fiber based technology to small rural markets." She
shared that information task forces similar to the one being
proposed have been effective in assisting rural areas develop in
Colorado and North Carolina and other states to address the digital
divide between urban and rural areas.
Ms. Stancliff informed the Committee that the task force would
consist of "two government agencies, three legislators, a
University of Alaska delegate, and seven at-large members who would
have the vision and knowledge of the industry" with the vision "to
include homeland security and missile defense, and economic
development in rural Alaska."
Senator Dyson voiced appreciation for the efforts being asserted in
these planning efforts. He opined that the Resolution, as written,
specifically denotes "fiber optic as the only solution as opposed
to satellite or microwave transmission." He stated that were this
the case, it would present "an unfortunate limitation" on the task
force.
Ms. Stancliff responded that the State's current fiber optic
communication system runs from Prudhoe Bay to Fairbanks, to
Anchorage, to Juneau and provides telecommunications to the outside
world. She noted that one issue before the task force is to
determine how to expand the infrastructure of the fiber optic
network that is currently in place. She noted that wireless
communication would be a related component.
Senator Dyson asked, for the record, whether this Resolution would
limit the horizon to just fiber optics.
Ms Stancliff replied that this Resolution would "absolutely not"
limit the scope of the task force to fiber optics.
Amendment #1: This amendment would insert "(1) the commissioner of
administration or the commissioner's designee;" into the Resolution
on page two, line 17.
In addition, the amendment would replace the number "seven" with
the number "six" on page two, line 22 of the Resolution. The
revised language would read as follows:
(5) six at-large members chosen jointly by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives and the President of the Senate.
Co-Chair Wilken moved to adopt Amendment #1 and objected for
explanation.
KEVIN JARDELL, Assistant Commissioner, Department of
Administration, explained that were this amendment adopted, the
Department, which currently "has the sole authority for the design
and implementation of all telecommunication" in the State, would
have representation on the Task Force. This representation, he
noted, would allow the Department to "mesh" its planning and policy
responsibilities with the other Task Force members' positions. He
cautioned that omitting the Department from the task force would
limit the task force's effectiveness. He noted that to really
succeed with this endeavor, public and private entities, working
together, would be necessary. He commented that the bill's sponsor
is not opposed to the Department's participation on the task force.
Ms. Stancliff affirmed that the sponsor does not object to the
amendment.
Co-Chair Wilken removed his objection.
There being no further objection, Amendment #1 was ADOPTED.
WANETTA AYERS, Representative, Southwest Alaska Municipal
Conference (SWAMC) testified via teleconference from an offnet site
in support of the bill, as it would benefit the SWAMC region. She
noted that SWAMC would support any technology that would further
telecommunication connectivity to the region. She voiced optimism
that advances in this field would assist "to bridge the digital
divide" and would enhance the economy of the region and the area's
quality of life.
Senator Dyson understood that the adoption of Amendment #1 would
require concurrence from the House of Representatives.
Conceptual Amendment #2: This amendment inserts the words, "and
wireless" following "fiber optic" on page one, line eight of the
Resolution. The revised language reads as follows:
Whereas access to fiber optic and wireless connectivity will
help bridge the digital divide that separates rural Alaska
from the benefits of technological advances realized by urban
areas; and
Senator Dyson moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment #2.
There being no objection, Amendment #2 was ADOPTED.
Senator Dyson moved to report the bill, as amended, from Committee
with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes.
Co-Chair Green objected.
Co-Chair Green voiced concern regarding the $99,500 fiscal note #3,
dated March 4, 2004 from the Legislative Affairs Agency;
specifically that funding for a fulltime eleven-month staff person
would be required.
There being no objection, Senator Dyson removed his motion to
report the bill from Committee.
Co-Chair Wilken ordered the bill HELD in Committee in order to
address concerns regarding fiscal note #3.
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