Maui cable TV
is not adequate,
executive says

The head of Maui community
TV says TCI needs to improve
equipment and expand services

By Gary T. Kubota
Star-Bulletin

WAILUKU -- The head of the cable community-access channel on Maui says people on the Valley Isle lack adequate cable TV service.

Sean McLaughlin, executive director of Akaku: Maui Community Television, said TCI of Hawaii Inc. has done a poor job of expanding services to potential subscribers and improving its equipment.

McLaughlin made the comments in an interview before public hearings begin this week about AT&T's merger with TCI, and the renewal of TCI cable franchise. The state franchise license expires in December 2000.

A public hearing, conducted by the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, is set for 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at Maui Community College Skybridge studios in Hana, Molokai and Lanai.

The hearing continues 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Wailuku.

"The big thing here is we want to motivate people to come to the hearings and say we need cable in our neighborhood," McLaughlin said.

He said the hearings represent an opportunity for residents to talk about what they want in cable services.

Under Hawaii law, state officials impose certain requirements upon cable TV providers in return for issuing exclusive franchises to them for certain areas.

TCI, which serves more than 21,500 households on the Valley Isle, agreed to give up to 5 percent of its gross revenues for public education and community access, including money to Akaku and to Hawaii Public Television.

McLaughlin said TCI last year received gross revenues of $10.9 million in Maui County alone.

Akaku, which receives about $550,000 annually from TCI and west Maui's Hawaiian Cablevision, provides tape broadcasts of public hearings and council meetings, and offers help in community broadcast productions.

McLaughlin said a number of areas, including portions of Haiku and Huelo, are not served by TCI, and the firm continues to have a limited number of available channels.

He also feels the cable TV station needs to expand the number of public-access channels. It currently offers three channels.

McLaughlin said on some areas of the U.S. mainland, cable TV systems are being used to also provide telephone and Internet service.

Gerrianne Sakamoto, TCI's general manager, said the firm charges rates lower than the national average -- $9.90 on Maui for limited broadcast service and $24.50 for its most popular package.

Sakamoto said the rates were lower despite the high cost of living and labor on Maui.