HI SB707

Authorizes the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to designate one or more access organizations to oversee development, operation, and management of public, educational, and governmental (PEG) access channels on cable television systems.

Requires the director to establish designation requirements by administrative rule and designate access organizations through contracts that include fair terms, property accountability, and requirements to return unobligated funds to the State upon contract termination.

Exempts the designation of access organizations from competitive procurement requirements under Chapter 103D, though this exemption does not apply to procurements made by the access organizations themselves.

Mandates that contracts designating access organizations shall not be perpetual and that any decision to designate, modify, or rescind an access organization designation must first be submitted to the cable advisory committee for review.

Expands the cable advisory committee's role to advise the director, cable operators, and access organizations on cable matters and specifically on all decisions regarding access organization designations.

Effective date: July 1, 2010.