RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the United States must enforce the rights contained in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which guarantees that American citizens have the right to freedom of speech and press and to assemble peacefully; and

WHEREAS, the existence of independent and local media ensures that diverse programming, voices, and ideas that are relevant and meaningful to the local community are given ample opportunity to be aired; and

WHEREAS, federal, state, and local policymakers must do their part to ensure a place for local and diverse media that serves the public's interests; and

WHEREAS, state and local governments in communities across America must have meaningful and well-defined roles to adequately protect media consumers and to effectively advocate for local needs and interests; and

WHEREAS, presently, major technological changes are blurring the lines between broadcast radio and television, cable, telephone, satellite services, and broadband Internet as these technologies converge; and

WHEREAS, as technology advances, old regulatory regimes need to be replaced with new regulatory schemes to ensure a level telecommunications playing field so that everyone can be heard and can gain access to information; and

WHEREAS, currently, the State regulates cable television, but not cable modem services on which high speed broadband internet programming can be viewed; thus, it is possible that a new regulatory scheme can preempt state and local governments from overseeing cable services; and

WHEREAS, moreover, media mergers are affecting Hawaii's local programming and news coverage, which results in a reduction of local news staff, news competition, and the quality and thoroughness of the news; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's needs regarding telecommunications are in part determined by its geographical location, relative isolation, mixture of high density urban and under-served rural populations, and unique ethnic and cultural diversity; and

WHEREAS, Congress and the FCC need to address Hawaii's unique telecommunications needs, and to ensure that all residents will have equal access to new media technology; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the House of Representatives concurring, that Congress and the FCC are urged to ensure media localism for Hawaii's broadband digital future; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the FCC is requested to convene, in 2006, a public meeting in Hawaii to consider the role of local, state, and federal jurisdictions that ensure media localism for broadcast, cable, print, and satellite media, including future local news and information applications via broadband telecommunications; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the members of Hawaii's Congressional delegation, Chairperson of the Federal Communications Commission, the Governor, Mayors of Hawaii's counties, and their respective City Council members.

Report Title:

Local Media; Federal Communications Commission.