HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

156

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

  

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

requesting the department of commerce and consumer affairs to develop a plan to provide equal public, education, and governmental access facilities, equipment, and operations of cable television systems to all markets throughout the State.

 

 

WHEREAS, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs regulates cable television in the State; and

WHEREAS, a cable television operator is required by law to designate three or more channels for public, educational, or governmental use, often referred to as "PEG" access channels; and

WHEREAS, the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs designates nonprofit access organizations to oversee the development, operation, supervision, management, production, or broadcasting of programs for these channels, that are funded in part by fees collected from subscribers by the cable television operator; and

WHEREAS, currently, there are four PEG access organizations in the State: in Hawaii county, Na Leo `O Hawaii; in Kauai county, Ho`ike; in Maui county, Akakū; and on the island of Oahu, 'Ōlelo; and

WHEREAS, although the access organizations' infrastructure costs are significant, the resources provided to these groups vary greatly throughout the State, resulting in underserved areas such as the islands of Lanai and Molokai and Hana, Maui; and

WHEREAS, there is a need for additional funding to support the mandatory access of public, educational, and governmental television in underserved areas of the State and provide equal access statewide; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the Senate concurring, that, in regulating cable television operators, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is requested to develop a plan to provide equal public, education, and governmental access facilities, equipment, and operations of cable television systems to all markets throughout the State, pursuant to standards and conditions to be adopted in accordance with section 40G-15, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is requested to address the cable television public access needs of underserved areas of the State, including Hana, Maui and the islands of Lanai and Molokai, in particular; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is requested to submit its findings and recommendations, including implementation plans and a timeline, to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the President and the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Na Leo `O Hawaii, Ho`ike, Akakū, and 'Ōlelo, respectively.

 

 
 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Cable TV; Public Access in Under Served Areas