public access TV

PEG Access Centers Closing at Alarming Rate

Stevie Converse — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:39:36 -0400

Full article: Benton Foundation
Cecilia Garcia
A new report says that since 2005, PEG access centers in 100 communities have closed. California has been particularly hard-hit, with 51 closures. And nearly half of those survey respondents who provided financial information for the five-year period of the study (2005 -2010) reported an average funding decrease of nearly 40 percent.

Media Minutes: March 4, 2011

Candace Clement — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:28:09 -0500

For the fourth time in four years, Time Warner Cable is pushing a bill in North Carolina to kill competition from more reasonably-priced municipal broadband systems. Public access TV shows like PhillyCam’s “UnSolved Philadelphia” are stepping up to fill gaps in the journalism world today. Yet, PEGs across the country are facing funding threats.

NPR's 'Liberal' Identity Crisis

Stevie Converse — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 10:01:46 -0500

Full article: Radio Survivor
Gavin Dahl
We need a more robust, more diverse NPR. Bringing together all our public interest journalism resources -- including community radio and NPR, cable access and PBS, nonprofit startups and independent bloggers -- means thinking critically about the "premier broadcast news organization" in America and how we can create a new foundation for American journalism.

How Many Cities Have Access TV? More than You Might Think

Stevie Converse — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 08:53:35 -0500

Full article: New America Foundation
Rob McCausland
Among the 276 major cities with populations greater than 100,000, a mere 22 are without a public access TV station. Millions of residents in thousands of communities are being served vital information from 800 government agencies and authorities, 250 public school systems, 175 colleges and universities and 450 nonprofit organizations.

Media Minutes: November 12, 2010

Candace Clement — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 17:02:09 -0500

The mayor of Seattle wants to slash the budget for Seattle's public access TV station, SCAN-TV. Several organizations are urging city counselors to reject the proposal to cut funding. And a watchdog partnership in Haiti is reporting on the untold stories of Haiti's reconstruction from the earthquake that devastated the country last January.

Public Access TV Funds May Be Used for City Email Instead

Lindsy Embree — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 10:30:40 -0400

Full article: Daily Weekly
Sarah Anne Lloyd
Last week at a Seattle City Council budget meeting, the city's Department of Information Technology dropped a bombshell: Starting next year, the $625,000 given annually to public access TV could be reduced to $100,000, and the contract would go up for bid. The saved money could be used to fund other things--namely, maintenance of the city's email system.

No Help from the FCC for PEG Access Television Anytime Soon

Stevie Converse — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:35:00 -0400

Full article: American Community Television
In a recent letter to Rep. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.), the Chief of the FCC Media Bureau expressed "hope" that AT&T would work to resolve the disputes raised in a petition filed by the Alliance for Community Media and the City of Lansing, Michigan over the delivery of PEG channels on the AT&T U-Verse system.

Detroit Sues Comcast to Retain Franchise Authority

Stevie Converse — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:35:47 -0400

Full article: Broadband Reports
Karl Bode
The city of Detroit has sued Comcast, insisting that the cable giant still has to adhere to a 1985 franchise agreement despite the fact that Michigan now has a statewide agreement forged in 2006. The move suit has set up an interesting showdown between state and local interests that highlights just how bad many of the state franchising laws (written by telecom companies) have been for consumers and communities.

Detroit Sues Comcast over Franchise

Stevie Converse — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 07:37:47 -0400

Full article: WWJ Radio
Matt Roush
The city of Detroit is suing Comcast's local subsidiary, saying that a 2006 state law creating one statewide franchise for cable TV providers that applies to all local jurisdictions violates the constitutions of both the United States and the state of Michigan.

Intended Consequences: Missouri Subscribers Can’t Find Their PEG Channels

Stevie Converse — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:26:00 -0500

Full article: StoptheCap.com
Phillip Dampier
Looking for your local town government meeting on Charter Cable? Missouri residents may have to send out a search party to find their local public, educational, and government channels, because Charter has moved them way, way up the dial for some of their subscribers.