KAHULUI, January 30 - Two days ago, Governor Linda Lingle unveiled her Broadband Communications plan to create a Hawaii Communications Commission. According to an official press release from the Governor’s office, the Commission would “champion the State’s efforts to lead the nation in broadband speeds, prices, accessibility, and usage.” Jay April, President & CEO of Akaku: Maui Community Television applauds Gov. Lingle for her vision, but urges Hawaii decision makers to ensure access for all local communities, and see that all Hawaii’s residents benefit from improved broadband infrastructure. April’s full statement follows:

“The Governor and the Hawaii State Legislature are to be congratulated for taking a bold step into the Broadband future by announcing plans to modernize the telephone, cable and internet regulatory framework in Hawaii.  Acting swiftly upon the recommendation of a Broadband Task Force, there are bills before the House (HB984/HB492) and one before the Senate (SB1680) that will combine the duties of the Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Cable Division (CATV) under the expert authority of a Hawaii Communications Commissioner.

“The United States has slipped in world rankings to the 25th position in internet broadband speed, lagging far behind leaders like Japan and Korea. Hawaii now ranks a dismal 42 out of 50 states in internet access speed. Proposed legislation calls for an appointment of a communications czar to bootstrap an ambitious effort to equal the broadband speeds of the top three nations in the world by 2012. (more…)

Senate Bill 707 (SB707) and House Bill 564 (HB564) were introduced this week as the 2009 Legislative Session commenced. Both bills will clarify the legislature’s policy for the agency and the public, and they will create clear and minimal guidelines that keep the “community” in “community access media”.

“Our hope this year is to clarify once and for all that the marketplace of ideas is not up for bid and to emphasize the need to implement meaningful rules that puts public access in public hands,” said Jay April, CEO and President of Akaku. (more…)

Kahului, January 22- Akaku: Maui Community Television (Akaku) received a double-dose of good news on Tuesday night as it joined family and friends to witness the inauguration of President Barack Obama and cheered on Akaku independent producer Destin Daniel Cretton as he accepted Best Short Film award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. (more…)