HB 37-EXEMPTION: CONTRACTORS, ELECTRICAL ADMIN.  10:19:18 AM CHAIR HOPKINS announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 37, "An Act exempting certain low voltage projects from contractor and electrical administrator requirements." 10:20:05 AM REPRESENTATIVE DAVE TALERICO, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor of HB 37, paraphrased from the Sponsor Statement [included in members' packets], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: An Act relating to an exemption for low-voltage projects from contractor requirements; and relating to an exemption from electrical administrator requirement HB 37 removes barriers that make installations of satellite and high-speed internet capabilities in Alaska very costly or impractical, especially in rural areas. Internet is extremely slow in most of Alaska. This bill adds one more avenue for Alaskans to get faster reliable internet via satellite installations. Currently low voltage internet satellite installers in Alaska are required to have an electrical administrator oversee their work (yet they know very little about) due to old regulations created prior to satellite internet installers. This is prohibiting cost effective satellite internet installations in rural Alaska and thus this bill exempts them as low voltage installers from electrical administrative oversite. HB 37 also adds an exemption to allow only low voltage contractors performing work on a project under $10,000 to do so without being a licensed general contractor, thus making small internet projects in rural Alaska financially possible and reasonable. I urge your support on removing this barrier thus enabling high speed internet options. 10:23:06 AM CHAIR HOPKINS asked what qualified as low voltage. REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO, in response, explained that, as this was 56 volts or less, it was less than regular house current. He added that the voltage through the coaxial cable for internet was 2 volts or less, which was connected to residential power via a UL listed receiver plugged into a wall outlet. 10:23:56 AM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked whether the installation was currently performed by licensed electricians. REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO answered that the requirement was for review and approval by an electrical administrator. He added that his desire was to lower the actual installation cost and make it more available, as the cost for an installer to visit a remote location was often cost prohibitive. REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked for clarification that, as currently there was not a requirement for a licensed electrician, but it was necessary for the follow up by an electrical administrator, the proposed bill would obviate the need for the electrical administrator. REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO responded that was correct. 10:25:01 AM REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ asked about the job requirements for an electrical administrator. REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO shared that he was "sure that they have to have a certification through the State of Alaska" and "to the best of my knowledge, there's a licensing requirement." REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ asked whether the licensing requirement was separate and distinct from that required for an electrician. REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO offered his belief that the licensing requirement was separate. 10:25:51 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT asked whether the installation required more positioning and plugging in, as opposed to any hard wiring requiring electrical expertise. REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO, in response, expressed his agreement, and shared a personal anecdote for connecting his personal satellite dish. 10:28:36 AM REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ asked for the definition of a coaxial cable. REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO, in response, explained that the cable was a heavily insulated, jacketed, small cable that carried the satellite signal from the "thing that grabs the signal out in front of the dish" "all the way into the home and to the receiver." He described it as the "signal transmitter." 10:29:27 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX explained that this cable was low voltage, was only sending signals, and did not create a safety hazard. 10:30:35 AM CHAIR HOPKINS announced that HB 37 was held over.