CABLE ACCESS PLANNING COMMITTEE & INITIAL BOARD ROSTER

Background:

In 1987-88 the Cable Television Division conducted a community needs assessment in preparation for the renewal of the franchise agreement with Oceanic Cablevision on Oahu.  As part of this assessment more than 110 proposals, letters of interest and questionnaires in support of expanding access resources were submitted.  These submissions not only indicated a strong interest in access, but also identified a wide range of plans to use the public, educational and government access channels.

The new franchise agreement was signed in December 1988.  The agreement provides for the dedication of three channels, the annual payment of an Access Operating Fee and a Capital Fund for facilities and equipment.

The franchise also called for the establishment of an independent nonprofit access corporation to fund and oversee public, educational, and governmental access on Oahu.

The Cable Access Planning Committee:

To initiate the planning process for the nonprofit corporation a series of four informational meetings were held in April.  In May
Robert Alm, Director of DCCA, appointed a nine member Cable Access Planning Committee. A roster of the Committee members is attached.

The Committee's mandate is to lay the groundwork for the nonprofit corporation and for the establishment of one or more production Centers that will provide facilities, equipment and training for organizations interested in producing programs to be carried by the cable access channels.  Kathleen Schuler, a cable access consultant who has worked with more than 300 communities, was brought on to coordinate the planning work.

Current Status:

The Committee has completed the first stage of its work: bylaws prepared and a first year operating plan drafted for the new organization.  The organization has been named - 'Olelo: The Corporation for Community Television.  Recruitment for an Executive Director and the Board of Directors for 'Olelo will begin soon.

Next Steps
 

The Committee is now forming three Advisory Groups. to be made up of representatives from state and city government, educational institutions and the community respectively.  All those who have participated in the earlier needs assessment and meetings are being invited to serve on these Advisory Groups.

Each Advisory group will have the opportunity to respond to the plans drafted to date.  These Groups will also advise the Committee on the critical next step: the establishment of the Production Centers that will provide training, facilities, and equipment for the production of programming for the public, education and government access channels.

The Committee's goal is to identify these production Centers and to have 'Olelo operational by the end of the year.