by David Corrigan

DISCLOSURE: Na Leo o Hawaii provides financial support for the production of this daily newscast, produced by Big Island Video News, which airs on Na Leo’s public access stations.

HILO, Hawaii – Na Leo o Hawaii Community Television is hoping to renew its contract to serve Hawaii Island as the public access station on cable TV.

Na Leo’s mission is to provide PEG services to Hawaii County – that’s Public, Educational and Government – and from the sounds of those who testified during this hearing, it is an asset to the community.

The hearing was conducted by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Cable TV Division, part of the renewal process.

Na Leo started operations in 1994, one of four independent PEG entities in the State of Hawaii. According to the TV station, the State of Hawaii, as franchising authority, chose to establish public access in conformity with the federal Cable Act of 1984 and delegated the regulation of public access to the Cable TV Division within the DCCA.

Na Leo’s general manager Baron Sekiya was the first to testify on Wednesday evening.

It was a small crowd at the Aupuni center in Hilo… mostly employees, producers, and cable executives. But those who spoke – like producer Chris Kua – spoke passionately.

Kerri Marks, who is a fixture at public hearings, filming under the Occupy Hilo banner, had some constructive criticism.

Na Leo, like the stations serving the other Hawaiian Islands, is financed through a portion of the franchise fees collected from cable subscribers. This is non-commercial community TV, and those fees are crucial to the station’s existance.

If you are watching this on Na Leo right now, you may like to know that you can still write letters of support to be sent via postal mail, fax or email to the address on your screen.

Cable Television Division
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
PO Box 541
Honolulu, HI 96809

cabletv@dcca.hawaii.gov

Fax: (808) 586-2525