HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	95
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

Urging the department of commerce and consumer affairs AND CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS to preserve the integrity of ‘Olelo Community media.

WHEREAS, ‘Olelo Community Media is a nonprofit community-access television provider founded in 1989; and

WHEREAS, ‘Olelo has been an indispensable part of Hawaii's civic and community life since its founding by providing uninterrupted access to multiple channels of public access, community television, and local political coverage; and

WHEREAS, ‘Olelo gives a voice to political candidates, civic groups, and members of the public who otherwise would not have a voice; and

WHEREAS, ‘Olelo encourages civic engagement by televising issues of public importance, providing in-depth coverage of government meetings, and making government more transparent and accessible; and

WHEREAS, the sale of Time Warner Cable to Spectrum's parent company, Charter Communications, threatens the public access that the people of Hawaii have come to hold dear, as the telecommunications company plans to move the ‘Olelo channels to obscure, low-definition channels, which will make them harder to watch and more difficult to find; and

WHEREAS, this threatens the effectiveness and reach of ‘Olelo's public service of providing transparent government and giving a voice to the people of Hawaii and their civic organizations; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, that the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is urged to enforce its rulings that ensure public access channels, like ‘Olelo channels 49, 53, 54, and 55, remain open and free for all subscribers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Charter Communications is strongly urged to reconsider its plans; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Spectrum Cable, Charter Communications, and ‘Olelo Community Media.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

‘Olelo Community Television