COMMENTARY
New cable pact should reflect changed needs
By Keali'i Lopez
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The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs has a process in motion to renew Oceanic Time Warner Cable's franchise to provide cable services on O'ahu. Renewal will allow Oceanic to continue to provide services to O'ahu subscribers for five to 20 years.
Under federal law, the community has the right to benefits because the cable system uses public rights of way. Much of that community benefit — especially community access to the cable system — hinges on a comprehensive community needs assessment. Considering what's at stake, we all need to become engaged, understand and actively participate in the process.
Franchise renewal offers both risks and rewards for our community. Unfortunately, across the country there have been recent examples of franchises that have been stripped of community benefits. That should concern us all as O'ahu's franchise is renegotiated.
The new franchise must strike a fair balance between Oceanic's ability to retain a reasonable profit and the community's right to fair compensation for use of its rights of way. Moreover, the O'ahu franchise also will serve as a benchmark for the state's other franchise agreements.
The community benefits that O'ahu residents enjoy today are a result of the current franchise, an agreement based on a far-reaching vision and a great deal of community input nearly two decades ago. That insightful vision, together with community involvement, also created 'Olelo Community Television-O'ahu's Public, Educational and Governmental Access provider.
Community access needs have changed dramatically since 1989, and they are likely to accelerate and diversify even more during the period of the next franchise, which could run as long as 20 years. Clearly, it is important that the new franchise respond to both current needs and anticipate emerging opportunities. Important considerations in the next franchise agreement include:
These are just a few of the community access needs that must be considered when the renewal is negotiated. Additionally, the franchise must ensure that the community will benefit from new or enhanced services that might emerge during the term of the new agreement.
For nearly two decades, 'Olelo has trained people in video production, provided facilities and equipment, worked in schools, and established community media centers in underserved neighborhoods. What started as a small facility in Kaka'ako has progressively expanded to six CMCs operated by 'Olelo in neighborhoods throughout O'ahu. Growth has been the result of an increasing demand for media production facilities that provide people and groups with a platform to exercise their First Amendment rights, and a means of sharing their stories about community life. Despite great progress, there remain underserved areas on O'ahu that could benefit from CMCs.
The demand for community access programming has risen from levels that filled half a channel in 1990, to the current volume that strains the capacity of six channels. A major factor in that dramatic increase has been recognition of the power of cable television to tell stories. Through media, people and organizations can share positive aspects of their communities. They have found that their collective voice can make a difference and help them to take charge of their futures.
People across O'ahu now have access to city and state legislative proceedings as well as community meetings. In 2007, over 4,000 hours of local programming was created by the community. The faces you see on the community access channels reflect the islands' vibrant diversity. Our programs reflect the many cultures of Hawai'i as well as other cultures from around the world. Programs are submitted to 'Olelo in more than 20 different languages. Additionally, scores of community issues are addressed by those whose voices would be diminished if they did not have access to the broad local audience reached by cable television.
But the promise of technology will make even more possible. That's why community involvement in the renewal process is vital to ensure a well-crafted and strategic franchise agreement that will serve the O'ahu community for years to come.
Keali'i Lopez is president & CEO of 'Olelo Community Television. She wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.
