STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 95-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.B. No. 2437

H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Economic Development and Business Concerns, to which was referred H.B. No. 2437 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CABLE TELEVISION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide a forum of free expression for the public by:

(1) Allowing the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) to implement a three-year pilot program to provide additional funding for public, educational, and governmental access facilities in underserved areas; and

(2) Appropriating funds for the initial year of the pilot program from DCCA's Compliance Resolution Fund.

The Cable Television Division of the DCCA, Olelo Community Television, Hoike: Kauai Community Television, and a concerned individual supported this measure. Akaku: Maui Community Television submitted testimony in support of this measure with amendments.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Providing that funding is for "community access media facilities, equipment, and operations" to emphasize the community-based nature of the resources that are needed, and to enable the DCCA to adopt pertinent rules with the appropriate flexibility;

(2) Requiring DCCA to submit a report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Sessions of 2005 and 2006; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments to correct

drafting errors and for purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development and Business Concerns that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2437, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2437, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development and Business Concerns,

		____________________________ BRIAN SCHATZ, Chair