THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

102

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LONG-TERM PLAN FOR THE LEGISLATIVE BROADCAST PROJECT.

 

WHEREAS, the legislative broadcasting program began cablecasting on a pilot basis in 1994, and has been renewed every session since then; and

WHEREAS, the legislative broadcasting program produces live and tape-delayed video broadcasts of selected legislative proceedings, called Capitol Television, for cablecasting on public access channels; and

WHEREAS, the legislative broadcasting program is intended to increase public access to and participation in the legislative process; and

WHEREAS, Olelo Community Television and Akaku: Maui Community Television continue to provide the Legislature with invaluable technical and engineering support, programming time for cablecasts, broadcast production television equipment, and preventive maintenance, repair, and replacement as needed; and

WHEREAS, all community televisions stations on Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai provide programming time to give equal access to citizens for legislative access; and

WHEREAS, although Capitol Television provides coverage for cable television viewers on Oahu, residents of other islands are still not provided with timely coverage to inform and to ensure their participation in legislative proceedings; and

WHEREAS, the Legislative Broadcast Project relies upon cable access resources provided through state regulation of the cable television industry, and which are managed by private nonprofit organizations serving each of the four counties of Hawaii, Maui, Honolulu, and Kauai; and

WHEREAS, Capitol Television operations can be enhanced by addressing safety issues of constantly laying and removing cables across public walkways and hallways; and

WHEREAS, the State can realize tremendous cost savings from having a long-term plan and building a permanent infrastructure, which includes cable installation into the walls, camera hookups and wall brackets, and a control room; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to develop and adopt a long-term plan for the legislative broadcasting program, which includes a facility and infrastructure plan; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the long-term plan include:

(1) A plan to increase access for neighbor island residents to ensure that residents of remote communities have coverage comparable to that of urban areas; and

(2) Installing permanent cables into the walls;

(3) Wall brackets and camera hookups to eliminate floor space problems;

(4) Designating the radio room or other room in the capitol building to have a control room for the cameras, instead of working in the hallways;

(5) Establishing policies for the legislative broadcasting program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to ensure the full participation of the Neighbor Island access organizations in the development of its plan; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau submit its plan to the Senate by December 31, 2002; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the Senate and the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Report Title:

Legislative Broadcasting Project, Long-term Plan