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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 291 Draft 01 1994-1996COUNTY OF HAWAtt STATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION N0. 2~1 96 RESOLUTION URGING THE FORMATION OF A ROUND TABLE TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY AND POTENTIALS OF ESTABLISHING A TELECOMMUNITY NETWORK SYSTEM IN THE COUNTY OF HAWAII WHEREAS, the concept of networking computers that are interconnected via telephone lines to a computer network system which provides community information and a means for the community to communicate electronically is known by many names--telecommunity systems, community networking, community-based computer networks, community computing, community bulletin boazds or civic networking; and WHEREAS, the first community network was created in the mid-1970's in Berkeley, California to help strengthen the Berkeley community and since that time, the interest in community networks has surged with new systems forming nationwide every yeaz in cities such as Blacksburg, Virginia; Telluride, Colorado; and Taos, New Mexico; and WHEREAS, a telecommunity network system can focus on local issues by emphasizing local culture, local relevance, local pride and community ownership; and WHEREAS, a telecommunity network system can ensure that all members of the community aze included in terms of physical accessibility of computer terminals for the greater community and accessibility for people receiving information from the network; and WHEREAS, a telecommunity network system has the potential of strengthening and vitalizing existing communities such as the Big Island community, which has experienced monumental economic shifts with the decline of the sugar industry, the'leveling' of tourism and which has a richly woven social, cultural, and ethnic fabric of diversity; and WHEREAS, at the minimum, the goals of a telecommunity network system on the Island of Hawaii would be (1) to strengthen the community by increased communication between the residents, businesses, local government and local institutions, (2) to improve 'democratic governance' and empower citizens to become more active and informed, and (3) to ensure that the entire community is included in the evolving national information infrastructure (information highway); and WHEREAS, there are recognized factors that must be considered when establishing a telecommunity network system including financing the system, the lack of high capacity telephone lines and equipment to accommodate the data transmission, assuring that the end users have physical access to the system, and the level of interest and commitment by all sectors of the community; and WHEREAS, increasing the public's accessibility, understanding and participation in local government is a goal of this County Council as demonstrated by its sponsorship of County Government Day and of Council meetings on the Public, Education and Government channel; and WHEREAS, the Council desires to bring sectors of the Island of Hawaii together to discuss the potentials of a'wired county' to help bridge the distance between our communities, whether those communities aze defined physically, socially, professionally, economically, institutionally, politically, religiously, culturally or otherwise; and WHEREAS, educational outreach at all levels of our island schools can be expanded through telecommunity linkages, thereby offering an array of services, classes and programs to all users and students; and WHEREAS, as new Big Island developments are planned and existing communities renewed, the concept of telecommunity networking could attract residents who would like to work at home and conduct business in the global marketplace. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCII. OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it urges the establishment of an interagency, public and private round table to explore the feasibility (i.e., physical infrastructure development, funding, community interest) of establishing a telecommunity network system on the Island of Hawaii; to assess the value of such a system on the Island of Hawaii; to rewmmend various organizational structures in order to achieve its implementation; to identify potential funding sources for such a project; to identify major policy and regulatory issues; and to study and compare existing electronic villages in the world. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the County of Hawaii appoint Councilman James Y. Arakaki to organize and convene the telecommunity network round table, which would consist of representatives from the County's Department of Research and Development; Finance Department-Data Processing Division; GTE Hawaiian Tel; Representatives Virginia Isbell, Jerry Chang, Dwight Takamine, Eric Hamakawa, David Tarnas, Bob Herkes, Sam Lee; Senators Malama Solomon, Richard Matsuura, Andy Levin, David Ige; the University of Hawaii at Manoa; the University of Hawaii at Hilo; the Hawaii Community College; the UH College of Continuing Education; the Department of Education; the State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; Chambers of Commerce; Hawaii Island Economic Development Board; cable companies; and interested parties. 2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that monies in the amount of $5,000 will be set aside from the Council's budget for the round table activities. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Honorable Stephen K. Yamashiro, Mayor; Director of Research and Development Diane Quitiquit; Finance Director Harry Takahashi; Data Processing Division Chief, Gail Rock; Representatives Virginia Isbell, Jerry Chang, Dwight Takamine, Eric Hamakawa, David Tarnas, Bob Herkes, Sam Lee; Senators Malama Solomon, Richard Matsuura, Andy Levin, David Ige; UH President Kenneth Mortimer; UHH Chancellor Kenneth Perrin; Hawaii Community College Provost, Sandra Sakaguchi; DOE Hawaii District Superintendent, Patricia Bergin; GTE Regional President and General Manager Warren Haruki; and GTE Hawaii Island Manager, Alan Okinaka; DBEDT Director, Seiji F. Naya; all Chambers of Commerce Presidents; HIEDB Director, Paula Helfrich and cable companies. Dated at Hilo, Hawaii, this 3rd day of April , 1996. INTRODUCED BY: COUNTY OF HAWAII JYA:crk COU Coi [hereby certify that the fc vote indicated to the right the County of Hawaii on ATTEST: j" ~- ~~ R --' OLL CAL L VOTE NTY COUNCIL mty of Hawaii AYFS NOES ABS EX -lilo, Hawaii Arakaki }{ Bonk-Abramson X regoing RESOLUTION was by the Childs }{ hereof ado ted by the COUNCIL of De Irma X p April 3 1996 Domingo X , Osorio X ,:. %' ~ Rath X / i:' 7 ~ ~ " .- Ray X ~ ~ '% ,~~G '~`-~ A ~~ Smith X ~ 9 0 0 0 Reference -1 COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO.