The state of Hawaiʻi wants to hear from you about your cable service. Yep, you right there on Oʻahu, who might have spent one too many hours waiting for your favorite show to buffer thanks to a less-than-stellar connection. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) is knee-deep in evaluating whether Hawaiian Telcom has been up to the task in providing adequate cable service, and they're doing it through a public survey. Your insights could influence the future cable franchise agreement for your island.
It’s more than just a questionnaire. This ascertainment process from DCCA's Cable Television Division (CATV) invites both current and former customers of Hawaiian Telcom to weigh in. Now’s the chance to voice your concerns or dish out that praise for the television services, programming quality, and the infrastructure on the island. Randy Leong, the Cable Television Administrator, pointed out as per DCCA, "The feedback we receive through this survey is vital in shaping how cable services can best serve the needs of Oʻahu’s communities." This is your opportunity to shape the media landscape you daily interact with.
But that's not the end of it. The CATV won't just be thumbing through survey responses. They're diving into the financials of Hawaiian Telcom, conducting technical reviews of their cable systems, and checking on their compliance with current franchise obligations. It's all part of making a comprehensive report that could swing open the doors to formal franchise renewal proceedings under local law.
And just because they've got a report in the works doesn't mean they're done listening. DCCA isn't about to put down its stethoscope; it "expressly reserves the right to conduct additional needs assessments," said a statement from the DCCA. Whether there's more gripes or gold stars out there for the cable service, they're willing to take a deeper look if they need to. The process might not be as quick as changing the channel, but it's surely as important.
Feeling opinionated about your cable service now? You know where to click. To partake in the DCCA’s online survey or get clued up on the franchise renewal ins and outs, visit their website.
