Background

     Akaku:  Maui Community Television, is unique in Hawai'i in
that, while it serves as the "clearinghouse" and transmission
site for P, E, and G access in Maui county, it was incorporated
as a public access (only) corporation.  Akaku produces G
programming through its contract with the county of Maui.  The E
element is handled by Maui Community College (MCC) and the DOE.
This tripartite arrangement arose as MCC had been producing and
airing its own educational programs for eight years before Akaku
was formed, and had a strong interest in continuing in a
leadership position with educational access.  MCC also wanted to
handle public access on Moloka'i and Lana'i, as it has
educational centers on those islands.  Akaku is responsible only
for assisting in the creation of P and G programming, but its
facilities are used for playback of all three PEG segments on a
single PEG channel.

     PEG access is thus split between these and is coordinated
through a consortium composed of representatives of these
organizations.  The role of the consortium is discussed in more
detail in the budget section.

     Akaku is located in Kahului in a 1,345 square foot office.
The office space includes a small (304 square foot) studio and
two edit bays, separated by half-height partitions.  Akaku has
been operating the PEG channel on since October 1993.  It has
four full-time and two part-time employees and an annual
operating budget of $204,787, airing programs for a subscriber
population of approximately 40,000 on the islands of Maui,
Moloka'i, and Lana'i, which comprise Maui county.  Akaku's
funding is based on receiving between two and three percent of
the gross revenue from the cable companies in its area.(1)

     One of the primary components of its service is an
interactive bulletin board that appears on PEG access channel
between programs.  The bulletin board features titles of various
nonprofit, education, and government topics ranging from
announcements of fundraising events to health information.
Viewers see a directory of title with a number by each title, and
by calling the phone number on the screen and typing in the
number with any touch-tone phone, an expanded description of the
event or topic appears on the television.  The service is
primarily for nonprofit agencies and educational and governmental
notices.  Akaku program schedules and information about
individual shows are also listed.

     Akaku also features an "open mike" type of show, "Speak out
Saturday," in which Akaku provides a single camera, studio, and
staff to start and stop the recording.  Individuals or
organizations in the community can use the studio for a half hour
to make a presentation of up to five minutes on any topic of
interest to them, as long as they comply with the Akaku
limitations on commercial programs, obscenity, promoting
gambling, and illegal and defamatory programs or other content
restricted by law.  These brief commentaries can be made without
the need for production training and certification. 

     Akaku surveyed nonprofit agencies to determine type and
level of access services desired.  Akaku provides two bi-monthly
studio programs for nonprofit agencies to discuss services,
events or interview guests.  Akaku production class is provided
as crew.

     Another feature of Akaku is its Senior Issues program, an
all-volunteer senior citizen television talk show on issues of
interest to Maui senior citizens.  No prior production experience
is necessary.

     Akaku reviews and facilitates "special project" requests
that can be accommodated within budget.  Special projects have
included multicamera political forums and sponsorships of large
nonprofit events such as "First Night Maui".  Akaku has over 150
individual access producers, and over 200 nonprofit, government,
and educational groups that have used Akaku's services in the
past 19 months.  Groups tend to be more organized and repeat
users, while individuals represent 30 or so "regular, weekly"
users.


Training

     Akaku started training in February 1994 and as of the end of
July 1995 had certified 132 people in its Access Basics class.
An additional 17 people have been waived in by meeting other
standards.  The Access Basics class is a five week course,
meeting three hours per week, that covers the basics of how to
produce an access show, how to use the access center, multicamera
studio and control operation, graphics, directing, copyright
issues, program promotion, and how to submit a program to be
cablecast.  Two classes are run concurrently each month, for a
total of twenty-four people trained each session.  Akaku also
offers additional courses in field production, editing, and
advanced editing.  The cost of each course is $20.  Members of
the class evaluate the training after every session provided.
The Bureau asked for a compilation or transmittal of the course
evaluations.  Neither was provided Akaku stated that although
evaluations are reviewed and used to improve the training
program, the information has not yet been statistically compiled.

     Training at Akaku is very popular; when its doors opened in
October 1993, there were over 300 people on the waiting list;
there were 254 as of February 1995; and 194 as of September 1995.

     Akaku publicizes its services and training opportunities in
free public orientation meetings held every other month.  Akaku
also posts messages on its video bulletin board, airs promotional
announcements, and has its staff and board members speak to
individuals and community groups about access opportunities.

     The Bureau asked for statistics on how many certified users
produce shows that are broadcast and the number of shows each
individual produces, but Akaku stated that these statistics have
not been compiled.  Akaku does track and report to the DCCA
information such as total number of Public, Education, and
Government programs produced and aired, and total number of
people certified in production classes.


Equipment Availability

     At present, equipment is made available on a first-come,
first-served basis to any certified access user, once the user's
program proposal has been approved by the staff.  Akaku is
considering allocating a certain amount of resource hours per
month per user to allow more equitable distribution of resources
and enable new users to gain access to equipment.

     The only equipment that is restricted is the multicamera
studio equipment when it is used outside the studio setting.  In
that event, it is sent out in the Akaku van with an Akaku staff
member, due to insurance requirements.  Akaku does not promote
this type of usage as it places extra wear and tear on the
equipment.  Akaku cannot afford an engineer or maintenance person
on staff, so remote use, with its attendant risks, is not
promoted.

     No organization has priority over another for public access
equipment usage.  MCC has been given funds for facility and
equipment, and Maui High School also been given funds for a
television studio for Department of Education (DOE) use.  Akaku
has received PEG funds to purchase equipment on behalf of the
county for G use.  That equipment has been made available for
public access use when not in use by the county.

     Defective or obsolete pieces of equipment are removed from
service and repaired.  Akaku's budget is limited and inadequate
equipment may not be replaced, depending on the cost.  Major
repairs are handled by an authorized service representative.
Lesser repairs are handled by by an engineer who comes in once a
month on a voluntary basis, or sometimes the chief engineer at
'Olelo is able to come over and assist.  Maintenance, repair, and
replacement of equipment are of increasing concern to Akaku as
its equipment ages.  Akaku realizes that it is unrealistic to
continue to reply on the kindness and unpredictable schedules of
engineering volunteers, and is seeking a source of revenue for
this area.


Cablecast Access

     Akaku divides its cablecast time into program categories,
such as community service, issues, spiritual, arts and
entertainment, government access, recreation, nonprofit, and
various educational categories.  Producers can designate the
category in which their program falls, and can request a
preferred cablecast time.  A new program is generally scheduled
to air two to four times during its premiere week, except for
series, and is generally kept in Akaku's program library for up
to three years for future cablecast.

     Akaku submitted its programming list for the period of
June 1 through July 1, 1995.  While public access shows
predominated during this period, governmental programming was
aired every day, and educational programs aired every day except
for five -- one Friday and all four Sundays.  Public access shows
were on various topics, such as religion, sports, politics,
entertainment, cooking, astrology, comedy, health, Hawaiian
issues, and the Speak Out Saturday program.  The educational
programming was taken from the HITS system and included courses
on calculus, analytical geometry, Hawaiian language, public
safety, and environmental resources for classes, and a Board of
Education meeting.  G programming basically consisted of a senior
issues program County "What's Happening" and County Council and
planning commission meetings.  Akaku also submitted statistics
for a more representative month, which showed more educational
programming:

             PROGRAMMING STATISTICS FOR OCTOBER 1995

          HITS (DOE and UH Educational)           43%
          County of Maui (Gov't Access)            9%
          Arts and Entertainment                  15%
          Spiritual                                8%
          Issues                                   7%
          Community Service (nonprofit)            7%
          Sports/Recreation                        7%
          Bulletin Board                           4%


     As public access is still relatively new in Maui, no
limitations had been placed on access to ensure the widest
possible usage.  As of July 1995, however, Akaku has sent a
letter to its series producers that the number and length of
series would be limited, and will also create some limitations
for producers of individual shows to enable more shows to be
aired.

     Akaku has experienced no significant problems to date with
persons who seek to use government access for political purposes.
The government access program centers around specific production
projects that are agreed upon on a yearly basis.  According to
Akaku, this "generally prevents our County Administration and
County Council from using government access production for self-
serving purposes, such as political campaigning."  While overt
campaigning is not allowed, the free exchange of ideas and
positions in political debate is acceptable.  During the last
election season, Akaku aired several candidate forums and helped
facilitate candidate forums for a local community association and
for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, by paying for the camera crew
and technicians who crewed the events.


Editorial Guidelines

     Akaku does not pre-screen any program for content.  Each
producer must sign a cablecast agreement stating that the
producer is aware of Akaku's policies and has abided by them.
Each program is checked to ascertain whether it meets minimal
technical standards.  No program is rejected based on length, but
Akaku does request that it be consulted in advance if the program
is over two hours in length, due to the difficulty of scheduling
longer programs.  Akaku also asks producers for assistance in
scheduling sensitive subject matter or content designed for
adults only.


Promotion

     Programs are promoted by both Akaku and the individual
producer.  Promoters are taught how to draft a press release and
how to distribute programs to the other access centers.  Akaku
will schedule the program on its on-air bulletin board and in the
TV Guide pull-out section of the Maui News.  If the completed
program is received by Akaku at least two weeks before air-time,
the show will be listed by name in the newspaper.(2) 


Viewership

     Akaku does not have information on viewer statistics;
however, it does receive up to 2,500 phone calls per month to its
on-air bulletin board.  The general manager reports that she
often fields comments and requests for information about access
programming, and that "there is a strong indication that
community television is a popular and watched resource in the
community."


Cablecast Scheduling

     Akaku works with representatives from UH and DOE well in
advance of each semester to establish an equitable distribution
of channel time.  Akaku has worked with the DOE on production
equipment purchases so that the resources would be similar and
could be loaned in the event of an equipment emergency.  Akaku is
also developing a cooperative training program with DOE for
students and for staff so that they can use their own production
resources and the DOE studio to create programming.

     Akaku updates program scheduling format on a quarterly
basis.  Educational programs are scheduled first since many are
credit courses for the schools.  Government programs are then
scheduled because Akaku knows well in advance what G programs
will be produced according to the G agreement.  Public series
programs are also scheduled in advance,  and Akaku leaves "open
blocks" for individual public programs produced throughout the
quarter.


Budget

     Unlike the other public access organizations in Hawai'i, the
P, E, and G access functions on Maui are handled by different
entities, so the budget process is quite different.  Akaku, MCC,
DOE, and the county administration have formed a consortium, an
unofficial advisory group, to handle issues relating to PEG
access, including budget.(3)  In the past, consortium members had
jointly discussed a mutual budget.  But due to conflicts of
interest, for fiscal year 1995-1996, Akaku prepared the public
access budget and helped to facilitate the government budget,
while MCC and DOE prepared their individual  educational access
budgets.

     Unfortunately, this method of organization has its
drawbacks.  Due to conflicts between the four main entities'
priorities, a unified budget was not presented to the Department
of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA); rather, each
organization submitted its own.  The total of the budgets far
exceeded the moneys available, thus placing the DCCA in the
awkward position of having to create the budget for Maui county
PEG access.  Given the State's attempts to distance itself from
PEG access provision, as discussed in chapter 8, the DCCA's
involvement with establishing a PEG budget is understandable but
inappropriate.

     The consortium's quasi-official status is another drawback
to this arrangement.  Consortium meetings are confidential and
closed to the public.  The consortium discusses and attempts to
make decisions that will have a significant impact on the way
that PEG access is handled.  Yet there is only one board member
from Akaku in the consortium, who is not authorized to speak for
the whole board unless board processes, such as public notice and
open hearing, are complied with.  Similarly, the Maui county
representatives have expressed their concern that their
participation does not comply with state open meeting
("Sunshine") law requirements.  The consortium does not seem to
be the best method of handling these issues.

     The fact that PEG access is fractured between different
entities has also resulted in duplication of facilities.  For
example, MCC, DOE, and Akaku all have studio facilities.  Given
the comparatively low number of programs generated through the
Maui DOE, a more cost-effective use of funds might have been to
build a larger joint studio with Akaku.

     Another issue that has arisen is that lack of public access
on the islands of Moloka'i and Lana'i.  MCC proposed to provide
public access on these islands as it has learning centers already
established there and has been receiving funding to do so since
1993.  In September 1995, an outreach coordinator was hired by
MCC for public access provision on Lana'i and Moloka'i, but no
equipment or training has been provided.

     The Legislature asked how moneys are allocated between the
areas of production, overhead, and administrative staff.  A copy
of the 1995-1996 PEG access budget was not available at the time
this report was prepared.

     One suggestion that has been made to strengthen PEG access
on Maui is for the State to complete its work in setting up the
PEG arrangement by finalizing the Maui plan and setting goals and
deadlines.  A clear articulation of responsibilities between the
P, E, and G providers plus a time frame for them to carry out
their responsibilities will enable all participants to fulfill
their obligations in a timely manner.

     It may also be timely for the State to consider requiring a
central responsible entity.  The consortium is unwieldy and has
no separate legal standing.  Its failure to come up with a
combined budget has placed the DCCA in the untenable situation of
having to devise Maui county's PEG budget for them, a situation
which should not be allowed to continue.  Akaku seems the most
logical entity to be primarily responsible for PEG access, as
access is the basic reason for its existence and as it programs
P, E, and G on the existing channel.  Akaku seems the most
involved in all PEG aspects.


Board Membership

     When asked whether the method of selecting the board should
be changed to include the votes of users, subscribers, or both,
in the area, Akaku replied in the negative.  It was concerned
that a membership-driven PEG access board would risk acquiring
self-serving board members who may not necessarily act in the
best interests of the organization or the public. 

     Akaku points out that it has ample opportunity for public
input and participation.  Its meetings are publicized and open to
the public.  Akaku has a policy of informing the public how they
can participate in board meetings and the decision-making
process.  Akaku solicits county-wide input through publications,
on-air promotions, outreach, and public meetings.  Akaku has also
held meetings in West Maui an on Moloka'i.  Akaku has a number of
advisory boards, standing committees, with members appointed by
the board president, and other committees created by the board
itself.  Akaku is the only public access organization whose users
did not contact the Bureau with complaints, perhaps due to its
open access.

     Akaku's nominating committee seeks board members who support
the general goal of community access.  Akaku tries to obtain
individuals with varied backgrounds, including those with legal,
financial, and nonprofit backgrounds.  Current board members
"represent the interests of seniors, education, government,
media, nonprofit groups, arts and culture," Hawaiians, and
others.  The nominating committee looks for complementary board
members based on expertise and capacity for input, and passes on
a slate to the board of directors for their review and approval.
The names are then passed on to the DCCA (the cable companies
appoint their own directors).  The nominations submitted are
advisory only; the DCCA is free to place its own choices on the
board, and in fact, the DCCA has exercised that right.

     Akaku notes that several AkakuAkaku board members have been
access users prior to becoming a board member, and that the
majority of the board members end up being access users in some
capacity while on the board.  AkakuAkaku takes the position that
member-driven boards (where members are elected rather than
selected) have had very poor results; the primary reason being
attempts by elected members to sway the board for self-serving
purposes, rather than considering the interests of the entire
community.


Community Access to Channels

     Cable subscribers on Maui have experienced some difficulty
in receiving the PEG access to which they are entitled, due to
poor signal quality and the fact that the public access channel
in West Maui is on channel 50, a channel well beyond other basic
service channels on the dial and not available on many older
television sets.  The Bureau understands that these issues were
being negotiated during the fall of 1995.  The public's right to
hear the diversity of viewpoints is concomitant with the
individual's right to be heard.  The cable company's duties do
not stop at the mere provision of "a" channel; the channel must
be findable and useable.  Each cable company should promptly meet
the spirit of its obligations under its franchise agreement.