04/27/2021 10:15 AM House ENERGY

             HB 154-EXEMPTION: LOW VOLTAGE PROJECTS                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:17:59 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SCHRAGE announced that the  only order of business would be                                                               
HOUSE  BILL  NO.  154,  "An Act  exempting  certain  low  voltage                                                               
projects   from    contractor   and    electrical   administrator                                                               
requirements."                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
10:18:20 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MIKE CRONK,  Alaska State  Legislature, as  prime                                                               
sponsor,  presented HB  154.   He began  by stating  that current                                                               
regulations impede  the construction  of small  Internet projects                                                               
in rural Alaska.   He spoke to how HB  154 will help construction                                                               
proceed efficiently.   He provided the sectional  analysis for HB
 [hard copy included in the committee packet].                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
10:21:32 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAD JONES, Technical Leader, Cisco  Systems, began his testimony                                                               
by talking about  the 56 voltage restriction.   He explained that                                                               
it is  an unusual  specification and spoke  to the  efforts Cisco                                                               
Systems went  through to  amend HB  154 to be  more in  line with                                                               
national code.  He summarized by defining "safe wattage."                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
10:23:44 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. JONES,  in response to  a question from  Representative Tuck,                                                               
clarified that he supports HB 154.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
10:24:09 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   CRONK,   in   response  to   a   question   from                                                               
Representative Claman, explained  that the focus of HB  154 is on                                                               
satellite Internet installation in rural Alaska.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. JONES  added that  non-satellite installations  are generally                                                               
lower wattage  for safety.   He  explained that  remotely powered                                                               
systems primarily  use power over  Ethernet, which has  a wattage                                                               
within  the  safety margin.    In  response  to a  question  from                                                               
Representative  Claman, he  highlighted  that  Ethernet power  is                                                               
common though people are unaware of all its uses.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
10:27:05 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CRONK, in  response  to Representative  Zulkosky,                                                               
confirmed  that  the  proposed legislation  functions  to  exempt                                                               
satellite installers  from having to hold  a contractor's license                                                               
when the projects are under $10,000.   In response to a follow-up                                                               
question, he  said the  bill would provide  cost savings,  and he                                                               
expressed hope  there could be  the least amount  of restrictions                                                               
possible.  He said the goal is to get people certified locally.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
10:30:07 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   CRONK,   in   response  to   a   question   from                                                               
Representative  Fields,   noted  that  some  people   in  smaller                                                               
communities   are  doing   installations  unregulated,   and  [an                                                               
electrician] from out of town would  have to come check the work,                                                               
which costs a  lot.  He added, "Because it's  local, we're trying                                                               
to take that restriction out of there."                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:31:59 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CRONK, in  response  to Representative  Rauscher,                                                               
confirmed the language  being added to statute under HB  154.  In                                                               
response to a  follow-up question, he confirmed  that those doing                                                               
the work would have to have the right insurance.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
10:32:59 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK  responded to questions  from Representative                                                               
Tuck.  He confirmed that a  handyman could do this work and would                                                               
need a license.   He said fiberoptics could be  added to the bill                                                               
language.   He  said he  wants  to make  the bill  "as strong  as                                                               
possible"  with  "the  least  restrictions."     He  offered  his                                                               
understanding  that [the  bill] would  be limited  to residential                                                               
work.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
10:35:40 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   KAUFMAN   observed   that  "in   the   suggested                                                               
amendments" was a revision of  the definition of low voltage from                                                               
class 2  or 3,  and within  that topic,  optical fiber  cable was                                                               
listed.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:36:10 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SCHRAGE announced that HB 154 was held over.