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+--- Thread: Cable comes to Ala Heiau, HPP (/showthread.php?tid=8499)
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Cable comes to Ala Heiau, HPP - Dinamight - 02-08-2011
After 51 weeks since my neighbor contacted the county concerning our lack of cable services here, we now have it! Finally high speed internet, Cable TV and phone services.
Oceanic is obligated to make it available in areas where there are 25 or more houses within a mile.
Cable was run all the way down Makuu, so this might help others between Ala Heiau and 16th, where it used to end, I believe.
When I contacted Dish Network to cancel they wanted to know my reason. I told them cable was here now and I could get a small number of channels for only $11.50 a month, instead of the $45+ they have been charging me for a full package I never wanted for years. Every year I checked to see if they would provide me a cheaper package and the reply was always that I was on their cheapest package. However when I told them what I could get from Oceanic, suddenly they could offer me a basic package of TV channels for $14.95. I was stunned. Seems when they had me over a barrel they extracted as much money as they could as they knew I had no choice. Now with a choice, they get competitive. I told them I thought their offer was offensive and I wanted them to cancel my services immediately.
RE: Cable comes to Ala Heiau, HPP - robguz - 02-08-2011
I wonder how that rule applies and who enforces it. Down in Seaview there are more houses than that within a mile, the same for Kehena and Puna Palisades. Cable internet would be life changing down here. Who at the County did your neighbor contact?
RE: Cable comes to Ala Heiau, HPP - macuu222 - 02-08-2011
Not going to happen between 1st and 15th and Makuu unless you live right on Makuu . There just isn't enough homes in a 1 mile radius to qualify. Probably the only reason the oceanfront has never been connected with cable until now was because they had to run the cable 15 blocks through areas that didn't qualify.
RE: Cable comes to Ala Heiau, HPP - rbakker - 02-08-2011
It's my understanding that they indeed MUST provide cable if the density is high enough, no matter what lies between. This is one of the conditions for having a monopoly on cable.
The contact at the council is Glen Chock. He is very helpful but it all depends on him (and you) to keep at Oceanic to actually do it.
RE: Cable comes to Ala Heiau, HPP - Aaron S - 02-08-2011
Glen Chock is with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs- Cable TV Division (a State, not a county, department).
http://hawaii.gov/dcca/catv/
RE: Cable comes to Ala Heiau, HPP - rbakker - 02-08-2011
Thanks for the correction, Aaron.
RE: Cable comes to Ala Heiau, HPP - TrevorKane - 02-09-2011
Sounds to me like you need to get out a map, draw the 1 mile circle, mark the (currently occupied) houses, and provide a list of the residents' names, addresses, etc. if you want to get something like this rolling for your area.
Also, be prepared to annoy someone at Oceanic on a regular basis until it gets done.
RE: Cable comes to Ala Heiau, HPP - Yogirl - 02-09-2011
I’m the neighbor so thought I would add just a little more detail on this. This is what I learned in my research. I'm sure there may be some inaccuracies but at least we got cable.
Because cable is a monopoly, like the utilities, the cable company has to sign a contract with the municipality it wants to serve, setting out the terms of service. One of them is density. This is so that service is available to all, and the cable company can’t just cherry pick the most profitable neighborhoods. And believe it or not, it isn’t the rich ones. This density requirement varies from place to place but here it is 25 homes per mile. No one has to actually sign up for it but the service has to be available. They did tell me there can be extenuating circumstances which negate the requirement. The cable company has to remain viable so if you are say 30 miles from the nearest poles, I’m guessing you are probably not going to get service. I don’t know exactly how they count the 25 homes per mile but we assumed per mile of cable and Dina counted the homes on the 3 streets closest to the ocean. It took them 6 weeks to get back to us the first time so I’m sure they went out and counted them in their own way.
So inquire with Oceanic. If you are not getting an answer or need an explanation as to why they can’t serve you, contact the email address on the site Aaron listed. Part of the cable commission’s job is to ensure Oceanic is fulfilling the terms of its contract to serve Hawaii county. As Dina said, it took 51 weeks from the time I inquired as to the density requirement in Hawaii county and many follow up calls and emails from us but at least we have cable now. I’m sure there are lots of other neighborhoods that qualify once it is pointed out to Oceanic that they meet the requirement. Good luck.
RE: Cable comes to Ala Heiau, HPP - robguz - 02-09-2011
Mahalo for this info. Do you have a specific phone number and contact at Oceanic? I've already left a message at the State office.
I also contacted Oceanic and the rep said no, they are not required to provide service and insisted they would have to install an entirely separate set of poles even though there are poles carrying phone and electric already.
Getting high speed internet and cable into various well populated areas of Puna seems like yet another thing our elected representatives have failed miserably at.
RE: Cable comes to Ala Heiau, HPP - rbakker - 02-09-2011
They used the existing poles in our street.