Legislature(2005 - 2006)CAPITOL 124
04/22/2005 08:30 AM House ECONOMIC DEV., TRADE, AND TOURISM
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HCR6 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HCR 6 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INTERNATIONAL
TRADE AND TOURISM
April 22, 2005
8:37 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Nancy Dahlstrom, Chair
Representative Bob Lynn
Representative Mark Neuman
Representative Jay Ramras
Representative Harry Crawford
Representative Beth Kerttula
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative John Coghill
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 6
Relating to the continuation of the Alaska Information
Infrastructure Policy Task Force until the first day of the
First Regular Session of the Twenty-Fifth Alaska State
Legislature in January 2007.
- MOVED HCR 6 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HCR 6
SHORT TITLE: EXTEND INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY TASK FORCE
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) KOTT
04/04/05 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/04/05 (H) EDT
04/19/05 (H) EDT AT 5:00 PM CAPITOL 124
04/19/05 (H) -- Meeting Postponed to 4/22 --
04/22/05 (H) EDT AT 8:30 AM CAPITOL 124
WITNESS REGISTER
MICHAEL O'HARE, Staff
to Representative Pete Kott
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HJR 6 on behalf of Representative
Kott, sponsor.
H. A. RED BOUCHER, Chair
Alaska Information Infrastructure Policy Task Force
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HJR 6.
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR NANCY DAHLSTROM called the House Special Committee on
Economic Development, International Trade and Tourism meeting to
order at 8:37:22 AM. Representatives Dahlstrom, Crawford, Lynn,
Neuman, and Kerttula were present at the call to order.
Representative Ramras joined while the meeting was in progress.
HCR 6-EXTEND INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY TASK FORCE
CHAIR DAHLSTROM announced that the only order of business would
be HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 6, Relating to the
continuation of the Alaska Information Infrastructure Policy
Task Force until the first day of the First Regular Session of
the Twenty-Fifth Alaska State Legislature in January 2007.
MICHAEL O'HARE, Staff to Representative Pete Kott, Alaska State
Legislature said HJR 6 continues the Alaska Information
Infrastructure Policy Task Force through January, 2007. The
task force was established in 2004 from House Concurrent
Resolution 32. It was charged to review and analyze fiber-optic
cable and satellite infrastructure in relation to distance
learning, telemedicine, homeland security, access to government,
and economic development, he stated. The task force will define
the state's role in infrastructure development; act as an
advocate to industry and government; and develop a long-term
strategic plan.
8:39:13 AM
MR. O'HARE said due to delays in the selection process, the
first meeting of the task force was in November last year, and
HCR 6 will give it the time to finish the job it started.
8:39:44 AM
H. A. RED BOUCHER, Chairman, Alaska Information Infrastructure
Policy Task Force, said the task force had late appointments,
but the general discussions have included providing the proper
infrastructure to aid economic development, education, and
health care. He said it was very positive, particularly on the
topic of using technology to bring urban and rural Alaska
together. "There was a lot of hard staff work put in," he
stated. The technology itself is not the answer, but using it
to focus on learning is the road to the future, he said. He
declared Toksook Bay a real success story, where a school
teacher got students telecommuting with kids in Madrid. The
Spanish students learned about subsistence culture, and the
Alaskans learned Spanish, he noted. He said he managed to bring
the public and private sector together. With a $60,000 Hewlett
Packard grant the Native community of Aniak and AT&T Alaska are
partnering on developing a learning center. He said federal
funding allows e-rate discounts for schools, but that leaves the
rest of the village out, so one of the focuses of the task force
is to bring affordable, high-speed connections into the
villages. The goal is to enhance the quality of life for all
Alaskans, he stated.
8:45:28 AM
MR. BOUCHER said the system needs to be secure, and he said he
is part of a national group analyzing cyber security. Hackers
could shut down a major utility, he warned, and he spoke of a
company brought in to the state deal with hackers.
8:46:49 AM
CHAIR DAHLSTROM said the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
uses the same company, and she said it was a good company. She
said she is pleased with the representation on the task force.
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN said knowledge is power, and the internet is
one of the best ways to get knowledge. The legislature needs to
get information quickly, and he said he frequently goes to the
internet. The state needs better internet infrastructure, and
he is particularly concerned about homeland security.
8:49:02 AM
MR. NEUMAN asked how many schools are using the technology.
MR. BOUCHER said e-rate funding is provided by the federal
government to allow schools and libraries to have high speed
connections. He said The first duty of the task force is to
evaluate the connectivity in every community. There is a
digital divide within some communities where schools have
internet "and the rest of the community is left out." The Aniak
center is a place to develop online businesses and to extend
learning while maintaining Native culture, he said. The first
thing on the task force agenda will likely be a complete survey
of the connectivity of all communities, and then a proposal on
how to bring rural Alaska to a 256-K connection, he said.
8:51:53 AM
CHAIR DAHLSTROM asked him to keep the committee posted with
updates.
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN moved to report HCR 6, labeled 24-LS0835\G
out of committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HCR 6
passed out of committee.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Economic Development, International Trade
and Tourism meeting was adjourned at 8:53:04 AM.
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