The Good News and the Bad News About Public Access TV
On
the completely great side, the California Legislature passed AJR 39, a joint resolution from California's
State Government asking the federal government to please fix the clause in the
1984 Cable Act that restricts much public funding of cable access channels to
capital only without operational support.
This clause, which is supported by virtually no one, has contributed to the
closure of community media centers across the state of California.
On
the less wonderful side, a California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
rulemaking process on cable franchise renewals appears to be taking the path of
least resistance under the leadership of Commissioner Peevey, and endorsing a
rubberstamp process that ignores service level to the community and complaints
received during the cable service renewal process. Media
Alliance's latest set of (somewhat futile) reply comments can be found
here.
More
news in support of PEG channels like KOCT:
And recently, at the 82nd Annual Meeting of the United States Conference of
Mayors, a resolution was made calling for the restructuring of the 1984 Cable
Act. The resolution, which was passed unanimously, encourages the U. S.
Congress to amend federal legislation pertaining to community access television
stations. These stations like KOCT, currently receive Public, Educational
and Governmental (PEG) fees. However, PEG funds. must only be used for
capital improvements. The resolution calls for allowing those funds to be used
for operation costs as well.
With the support
of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, KOCT urges the U.S. Congress to make the
minor legislative changes that will allow PEG fees to be used for the
operations of our community access television station. The resolution supports
the power of public access stations. Community television channels
provide transparency and access for local governments with their residents and
business owners by broadcasting City Council and hospital meetings,
voter information for local elections, topical talk shows on local issues and
topics and other events like the recent Independence parade.
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