MEDIA RELEASE

Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Director Catherine P. Awakuni Colon has named Ji Sook “Lisa” Kim as the state’s new cable television administrator.

“Lisa brings a wealth of experience to the department,” said Awakuni Colon. “She has done a great job as acting administrator, and has a detailed understanding of the state’s regulated utilities and how consumers are impacted.”

Kim has been serving as acting Cable Television Division (CATV) administrator since January 2015, leading the division when dealing with various issues involving the regulation of cable operators and broadband services in the state, including serving as lead division attorney on the Comcast-Time Warner Cable transaction.

She has been with the CATV division since January 2014.

Prior to that, Kim served as commission counsel for the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for almost 14 years (March 2000 – January 2014), where she provided case management activities regarding both docketed and non-docketed PUC matters regarding various regulated utilities.

She served as the primary attorney assigned to the PUC’s investigation in opening the state’s telecommunications market for competition in compliance with federal and state laws.

Kim also has experience as an analyst for the state’s Office of the Auditor, and as a researcher and budget analyst for the Hawaii State Legislature.

“I am excited about the opportunity to serve in this capacity as the state looks at important technology advances in the area of broadband and the cable industry’s evolving regulatory structure,” Kim said. “I look forward to utilizing my regulatory experiences to continue expanding cable and broadband services for the people of Hawaii.”

CATV regulates franchised wireline cable operators within the State of Hawaii. CATV determines whether the initial issuance, renewal or transfer of a cable franchise is in the public’s best interest.

The division is also one of the lead state agencies involved with promoting the adoption and deployment of high speed broadband at affordable prices throughout the state.