THE FUTURE OF CABLE TV, PUBLIC MEDIA AND INTERNET IN MAUI COUNTY
IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH, READ THIS NOTICE!
Who is involved?
Stakeholders:
YOU, citizens of Maui County
&
AKAKU, Maui County’s ONLY public media and PEG (Public, Educational, and Government)program service provider
Approving Agency:
State of Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA)
Applicant:
Oceanic Time Warner Cable, Maui County’s ONLY cable company
What is occurring?
The renewal process for the Oceanic Time Warner Cable’s Maui County and Lahaina/West Maui Franchises has begun. The franchise renewal is essentially a lease agreement that will establish the applicant’s rent for use of Maui County’s (YOUR) public rights of way for the next 20 years.
Why be involved?
As landlords of the public rights of way, YOU, the citizens of Maui County, must speak out to demand sufficient rent be collected to ensure Maui County’s cable TV, public media and internet needs for the next 20 years are met.
Risks of not getting involved?
o Losing YOUR freedom of speech!
o Losing your public access channels; no more AKAKU!
o Continued access to inadequate internet speeds that inhibit economic development,
educational advancement, and government efficiency!
What is sufficient rent?
o UNIQUE AGREEMENT THAT FITS MAUI COUNTY’S NEEDS – only county in the nation comprised of 4 islands; significant concentration of Native Hawaiian population; some of the nation’s most rural and underserved areas.
o SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR THE FUTURE – contractual obligation whereas cable fees and profits increase annually, the rent we collect should also increase.
o ACCESS TO QUALITY BROADBAND AND INTERNET SERVICES – fast and affordable internet; increased broadband capabilities and speeds in community institutions such as schools, government and public safety facilities, non-profit agencies, and community media centers; free access to WiFi in county parks and recreation areas.
o EQUAL RIGHTS FOR COMMUNITY MEDIA – provide AKAKU the same quality of service as other Counties receive and the same quality of service that the leading channels/stations receive.
How to get involved?
Visit the AKAKU website to learn about Maui County’s needs and what we demand:
Testify at next week’s Community Meetings (Aug 27th, 28th, and 29th) to voice your demands.
Submit written testimony by Sept 14th to the DCCA stating your demands from Oceanic Time Warner Cable.
Email your testimony to:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
For more information visit AKAKU.org or contact Councilmember Elle Cochran at 808-270-5504.
THE TEN REQUIREMENTS
1. Cablecast Akaku channels with the same format and signal quality as local
broadcast channels including HD and make them available on multiple tiers.
2. Maintain channel ID numbers and locations as agreed to by Akaku.
3. Increase funding and capital support to Akaku with no restrictions on funds
for internet and new media use.
4. Provide Maui County all public benefits Time Warner provides to any other
franchise in the nation.
5. Honor contract with DCCA and Akaku regardless of changes in federal or
state law.
6. Provide Akaku viewers with 25 hours of video on demand.
7. Dedicate 10% of all bandwidth for public benefit use.
8. Provide fast, affordable internet for all.
9. Meet the Governor's goal of symmetrical gigabit internet by 2018
10. Free WiFi in public parks and designated areas
Send your comments to: Keali'i Lopez, Director
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
P.O.Box 541
Honolulu, HI 96809
Or to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Wednesday, 8/27
4:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Walter Cameron Center
Auditorium
95 Mahalani Street. Wailuku
(On the right side of Mahalani Street, which is the street off W. Kaahumanu Ave. that goes to Maui Memorial Medical Center)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
DCCA-CATV
P.O. Box 541
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96805
Tell DCCA in your own words:
What you think of the cable company’s service?
Why you support Akakū?
Five key points:
2. Cablecast Akakū in HD
3. Increase funding and capital support for Akakū
4. Provide fast, affordable internet for all
5. Match the best deal for community TV that Time Warner Cable gives to any place where they do business
THE FUTURE OF CABLE TV, PUBLIC MEDIA AND INTERNET IN MAUI COUNTY
STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS
CABLE TELEVISION ADMINISTRATION
CABLE TELEVISION FRANCHISE RENEWAL
COMMUNITY ASCERTAINMENT MEETINGS
AUGUST 27, 28 & 29, 2012
WRITTEN COMMENTS DUE BY SEPTEMBER 14, 2012
THE MAIN TALKING POINTS
MAUI COUNTY NEEDS AN AGREEMENT THAT FITS MAUI
1. Maui County is singularly unique. It is the only county in the United States separated by water. Made up of four islands, Maui County has a significant concentration of Native Hawaiian population and some of the most rural and underserved areas in the nation when it comes to access to broadband and television media. Akaku is Maui County's only electronic public media resource. These important characteristics position Maui County as deserving of a comprehensive cable franchise agreement that fits its needs and guarantees a sustainable community media future for all its residents.
According to state law, Oceanic Time Warner Cable is required to provide facilities, equipment, channels and financial support for Public, Educational and Government (PEG) access programming. Akaku recommends that, at minimum, the following public media provisions be provided as a condition of franchise renewal, as rent for the use of Maui County's public rights of way.
BEFORE THE STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND
CONSUMER AFFAIRS
CABLE TELEVISION ADMINISTRATION
RE: OCEANIC TIME WARNER CABLE TELEVISION FRANCHISE RENEWAL
FOR KAHULUI AND LAHAINA FRANCHISES
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED BY:
Jay April
President and CEO
SEPTEMBER 12, 2012
water. Made up of four islands, Maui County has a significant concentration of Native Hawaiian
population and some of the most rural and underserved areas in the nation when it comes to
access to broadband and television media. Akaku is Maui County's only electronic public media
resource that regularly serves hundreds of Maui non‐profits, businesses, schools, government
agencies, institutions and individuals with a high level of innovation, civic engagement and
professionalism. Maui is not Oahu and these important characteristics position Maui County as
deserving of a comprehensive cable franchise agreement that fits its needs and guarantees a
sustainable community media future for all its residents.
Aloha Director Lopez,
I am writing to comment on the Oceanic Time Warner Cable franchise renewal proceeding now underway in Maui County. Maui Nui is unique from the rest of the state. We are the only county in the nation with four islands separated by water and we have many underserved rural areas, many with significant native Hawaiian population. We need an agreement that fits Maui, not the same agreement negotiated for the County of Honolulu in 2009.
As cable technology evolves from the delivery of entertainment and broadcast television channels, to a system that provides voice, internet and a variety of new services via broadband, it is important that the state take an active role in preserving and protecting the public "electronic commons" currently operating as Public, Education and Government (PEG) Access under the auspices of Akaku. Akaku is Maui County's only television media. We rely on Akaku to help us talk to one another and it deserves increased funding and full support.
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