STAND. COM. REP. NO.3140

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: S.C.R. No. 61

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 61 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO SUPPORT AN AMENDMENT TO THE FEDERAL CABLE ACT OF 1992 FOR "MUST-CARRY" LEGISLATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the U.S. Congress to amend the federal Cable Act of 1992 to include a "must-carry" provision that will require cable access for Class A low power channels offering Hispanic programming to Hawaii consumers.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by Univision/HTV Hawaiian Television, Hawaii Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hola Hawaii Newspaper, and Hector Venegas Enterprises.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii television station KHLU-LP is the only Hispanic station in the entire State with all Spanish programming that is an affiliate of the Univision Network, the fifth largest U.S. television network. Your Committee further finds that Hispanics comprise nearly ten percent of our State population and a substantial number of military personnel stationed in Hawaii, who would be interested in accessing this station through our cable network. Your Committee agrees that this proposed "must-carry" amendment would expand the diversity of programming offered within the State and provide a forum for the exchange of business information that could benefit Hawaii through exposure of Hawaii products and services on the Univision network.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 61 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing,

____________________________

RON MENOR, Chair