Hawaii Senate Bill SR66

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/25
• Refer: 3/11/25
• Refer: 3/14/25

Caption

Requesting The State Auditor To Conduct A Financial Audit Of The Hawaii State Institutional Networks On Each Island Of The State To Determine Actual Costs For Maintenance.

Impact

SR66 seeks to increase transparency surrounding the financial aspects of the institutional networks established across Hawaii. Historically, these networks were to be built at no expense to subscribers or the state by the cable operators. The resolution also emphasizes the significance of confirming these costs, potentially underlining the obligations of cable operators under existing federal regulations, namely the FCC Order 621, which restricts how franchise fees can be allocated.

Summary

Senate Resolution 66, introduced in the 33rd Legislature of Hawaii in 2025, requests the State Auditor to conduct a financial audit of the Hawaii State Institutional Networks on each island. This initiative aims to assess the actual costs associated with the maintenance of these networks. The resolution indicates that recent authorizations by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs permit cable operators to charge marginal costs related to maintenance only for portions of these institutional networks that are actively used.

Contention

While the bill itself may not directly evoke significant opposition, it references a nuanced landscape of regulatory compliance for cable operators. The resolution is rooted in concerns over the proper allocation of funds towards maintenance from the franchise fees, and could highlight discrepancies between what is collected and the actual maintenance costs. This could lead to broader discussions about the financial practices of cable providers and potential reforms in how costs are handled in the future.