The State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs has scheduled a public hearing July 19 on Hawaiian Telcom's application for a license to start a cable television franchise.

The license would give Hawaiian Telcom the right to offer video service over its phone lines in competition with Time Warner Oceanic Cable. For Hawaiian Telcom, which has 1,800 employees, the drive to offer video comes amid increasing competition from wireless and cable companies. Last year Oceanic began offering telephone service.

Hawaiian Telcom plans to launch the service this year. However, the company said its most immediate concern is fixing customer service problems and other glitches resulting from a recent change in ownership. Longer term, the company plans to position itself as a major alternative to cable television.

"Currently we are very focused on improving customer service, but we also have our eyes to the future and will live up to the promises that were made when Hawaiian Telcom was created," said Hawaiian Telcom spokeswoman Ann Nishida.

The hearing is scheduled for 4 p.m. in the Queen Lili'uokalani Conference Room of the King Kalakaua Building on Merchant Street in downtown Honolulu.

Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com.