Report Title:

Cable Television Systems; Access Organizations; Cable Advisory Committee

Description:

Authorizes the director of commerce and consumer affairs to designate an access organization to oversee the development, operation, supervision, management, production, or broadcasting of programs for cable television channels; requires the director to also establish requirements for the designation of access organizations; and requires the cable advisory committee to advise access organizations on matters under chapter 440G, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1789
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to cable television systems.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 440G, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§440G-   Designation of access organizations; requirements. (a)  The director may designate an access organization to oversee the development, operation, supervision, management, production, or broadcasting of programs for any channels obtained under section 440G-8.

(b)  The director shall establish the requirements for the designation of an access organization pursuant rules adopted under chapter 91.

(c)  The director shall ensure that the terms and conditions upon which requirements for the designation is provided are fair to the public, taking into account the geographic, topographic, and economic characteristics of the service area and the economics of providing cable access in the service area.

(d)  Any decision designating, modifying, or rescinding a designation of an access organization or the requirements therefor shall first be submitted for review to the cable advisory committee as provided by rule established by the cable advisory committee and its comments shall be incorporated into the its final order.

(e)  The designation of an access organization and the determination of requirements for a designation shall be exempt from chapter 103D."

     SECTION 2.  Section 440G-13, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§440G-13  Cable advisory committee.  There is established the cable advisory committee.  The committee shall consist of five members appointed by the governor as provided in section 26-34.

     The committee shall advise the director [and], cable operators, and access organizations on matters within the jurisdiction of this chapter at the request of the director [or], any cable operator[.], or any access organization.

The committee shall advise the director on the designation of access organizations and the requirements therefor as provided by section 440G-  .

     The members of the committee shall serve without pay but shall be entitled to reimbursement for necessary expenses while attending meetings and while in discharge of their duties."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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