HB1124 Summary

• Appropriates funds for the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Cable Television program (CCA102) for fiscal years 2019-2021, with 8.00 permanent full-time equivalent positions authorized and $2,647,986 in special funds appropriated for each fiscal year.

• Sets cable operator annual fees at 4.5 percent of income received from subscribers for cable services rendered during the preceding year, with fees due to the department before February 1 each year.

• Authorizes the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to decrease the annual fee by decision and order if the existing fee exceeds the amount necessary to cover administrative costs under Hawaii Revised Statutes chapter 440G.

• Establishes fee calculation methodology based on the director's proposed budget, minus existing compliance resolution fund balances and anticipated revenues, with assessments bearing reasonable relationship to regulatory costs and subject to legislative special fund ceilings.

• Defines "income received from subscribers for cable services" to include installation fees, disconnect and reconnect fees, and regular cable benefits, but excludes per-program charges, leased channel revenues, and advertising revenues.