House Bill 2902 HD1 | 'Olelo Community Media

February 17, 2010

Aloha,

I would like to update you on the outcome of last week's hearing on House Bill 2902 and let you know about a hearing scheduled for tomorrow morning on Senate Bill SB707, a bill that we strongly support.

House Bill 2902
Mahalo to the many of you who provided written and oral testimony to the House Legislative Management (LMG) Committee last week. Committee Chair Tokioka and the committee members heard you and adjusted the language in the bill to remove any reference to splitting Public, Educational, and Government (PEG) Access. The removal of that language is essential to the survival of PEG Access as it is today, and we want to sincerely thank you who took the time to share your concerns with your legislators. A revised version of HB2902 passed through the LMG committee and is currently referred to the House Finance Committee.

The language to the revised bill can be found here: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2010/bills/HB2902_HD2_.htm

In summary, the revised version of HB 2902 calls for an auditor to conduct an analysis of the allocation of cable operator franchise fees to: PEG access organizations; Hawaii Public Television Foundation; and The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Cable Television Division (DCCA).
The bill also calls for a financial review or audit of 'Olelo to determine the effectiveness with which it implements its programs through the allocation of resources. The review or audit shall include, but not be limited to, an examination of financial records, overall financial health, and operating expenses.

Although 'Olelo already has annual financial audits conducted and audits can be costly, 'Olelo has and will cooperate with a State audit, should HB2902 pass.

Regarding the intent of the bill, LMG Committee Chair Tokioka explained at the hearing that the purpose was not to harm public access but rather to find a way to fund government access programming.

We are certain that if the DCCA removed the arbitrary cap on 'Olelo's funding, there would be greater opportunity to support government access programming and other PEG access services that could benefit our communities. To clear up a misconception that came up again last week at the hearing, 'Olelo does not receive 3% of the PEG funding available to support PEG services on O'ahu. The imposition of the cap by the DCCA has resulted in 'Olelo receiving only about 2% of franchise fees (this means that 'Olelo only receives the equivalent of about 60% of what is collected for PEG on O`ahu). For the years 2009 and 2010 alone, the funds diverted from community access services on O'ahu amount to nearly four million dollars.

Senate Bill 707
Another bill on PEG Access, SB 707, is s scheduled to be heard in a Joint Committee meeting tomorrow, Thursday morning, 2/18/10, at 9:30 am in Senate Conference Room 229

SB 707 would make it possible for the Director of the DCCA to designate a provider for PEG services provided that the designation is exempt from procurement law. We support this bill because it could provide the opportunity for PEG operators like 'Olelo to be exempt from the Request For Proposal (RFP) process.

The full language of SB707 can be found here: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2010/bills/SB707_.htm

If you are able to provide testimony to the Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary and Government Operations Committees in support of this Bill, please email testimony on SB707 to:

CPNTestimony@Capitol.hawaii.gov
or fax to 586-6659
or deliver in person at the hearing tomorrow morning.

Your support would be very helpful, but we realize this is short notice and ask for your assistance if your schedule permits.

Committee Members will receive copies of the testimony you send.

For your information, the Joint Committee members are:

Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection
Chair Rosalyn Baker senbaker@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Vice Chair David Ige sendige@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Will Espero senespero@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Josh Green sengreen@capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Les Ihara senihara@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Norman Sakamoto sensakamoto@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Fred Hemmings senhemmings@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Senate Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations
Chair Brian Taniguchi sentaniguchi@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Vice Chair Dwight Takamine sentakamine@capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Robert Bunda senbunda@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Mike Gabbard sengabbard@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Clarence Nishihara sennishihara@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Sam Slom senslom@Capitol.hawaii.gov

By providing testimony on PEG issues, you do your part to secure the future of community access television in Hawai`i. Mahalo once again for your advocacy and participation.

Keali`i López
President and CEO
'Olelo Community Media

February 12 2010

Thank you to everyone who testified on HB2902 HD1. A new version of HB2902 HD2 was posted last night that has deleted the language calling for a split of Public, Educational and Government Access in Hawaii. Read the testimony here.

February 9 2010

We have just learned that the Hawaii State House of Representatives is considering a bill (HB2902 HD1) that will split Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) Access in Hawaii. The bill would require that two thirds of the funds received by 'Olelo to provide PEG Access services be diverted for educational and governmental access purposes.

Splitting up PEG in Hawaii by diverting funds to Education and Government will cause a dramatic reduction in 'Olelo's services to the community. 'Olelo would no longer be able to provide multiple CMCs throughout Oahu, nor provide the level of support we currently provide to schools, community members, and non-profit and community organizations. As we all know, these are difficult times for all and clearly, the financial needs of the State and Counties will mean that funds everywhere will be examined. This is to be expected, but legislators need your help to understand why community media is important to you and your community.

I encourage each of you to read HB2902 at
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2010/bills/HB2902_HD1_.htm,
then contact your representative to ask that they do not support this bill.

Please submit your testimony as this bill is scheduled to be heard this
Wednesday, February 10 at 2:00 p.m. in House Conference room 423.

For comments less than 5 pages in length, email: LMGtestimony@Capitol.hawaii.gov

More info on how to testify is available on the Hearing Notice.

The links below connect you to members of the House leadership and members of the Legislative Management Committee that introduced the bill: