roundtable: Re: Are We Losing Our Local Public Access Forum

roundtable: Re: Are We Losing Our Local Public Access TV?

Re: Are We Losing Our Local Public Access TV?

Barry Forbes (bforbes@alliancecm.org)
Tue, 31 Dec 1996 09:44:42 +0000 

Message-Id: <199612311505.HAA00338@igc3.igc.apc.org>
From: "Barry Forbes" <bforbes@alliancecm.org>
To: roundtable@cni.org
Date:          Tue, 31 Dec 1996 09:44:42 +0000
Subject:       Re: Are We Losing Our Local Public Access TV?


As Executive Director of the Alliance for Community Media, I
received a three page letter from Jane Wardlow Prettyman on December
20, 1996 -- which I have subsequently found posted and cross-posted
on several lists! The letter was headlined "Are We Losing Our Local
Public Access TV Channels?" and raises some important issues and
questions that I would like to address...


> I understand that the Telecom Act has released cable franchisers
> from the former requirement to provide training and production
> facilities for Public Access TV  channels that would make possible
> individual expression by private citizens.

I'm afraid that you have been misinformed. This is incorrect on two
counts. First, there has bever been any "requirement" for cable
operators to provide public, educational, and governmental (PEG)
access on local cable systems. PEG access grew as a grassroots
movement in the late 1950's and 1960's. This was acknowledged in the
Cable Act of 1984 (and subsequent Cable Act of 1992) -- but not
"required." Then, as now, the responsibility rests with local
municipalities as to whether the cable operators are required to
provide funds, equipment and/or channel capacity through their local
franchise agreement. 

Second, the Alliance successfully mobilized its membership to
PROTECT PEG access in the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Act
would have allowed regional Bell operating companies (RBOC's) to
provide services similar to cable television (originally called
"video dial-tone" and now called "open video systems") WITHOUT
providing support for PEG access. Thanks to successful Alliance
lobbying inside and outside the beltway, RBOC's providing "ovs" are
now required to match the support of local PEG access.


> One problem is a matter of PA's public image. Of the three
> competing "public" aspects (Public Access, educational and
> government--PEG), Public Access seems to be viewed as the
> least valued or somehow expendable, "the poor cousin," in
> part because some of the programming is perceived as not up to par
> compared to slick commercial shows and some programming is not in
> the "mainstream" of the community's "majority" in terms of ideas
> or points of view.
>
> On the "bad image" front, we have a Public Access program here,
> for example, that promotes white supremacy. But we also have the
> capacity (so far) to produce programs to counter that view and we
> should not be precluded from the right to speak up just because
> "objectionable" views are shared. Indeed, the PA channel is seen
> as the "Hyde Park Corner of the airwaves" with both positive and
> negative connotations of that image.

In my opinion, the mainstream commercial media has always been too 
eager in highlighting the "controversial" elements of public access 
rather than depicting the full spectrum of expression. The Alliance 
tries to counteract this tendency through our annual Hometown Video 
Festival (now in our 20th year), through a multitude of press 
releases and interviews throughout the year, and any other way we can 
"frame the debate" with our limited resources.


> Can you please advise me: 
> 1) So that I can protest to my Congress people, where exactly in
> the Telecom Act can I find the section in which this transfer or
> release of the cable franchiser's responsibility is described from
> the Federal government or FCC to local City dispensation of Public
> Access rights? 

As I have mentioned, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 contains no
such provision.


> 2) Where can I find information on what's happening to Public
> Access in other communities?

Through the Alliance for Community Media! The Alliance:
* produces an annual conference (July 9-12 in Milwaukee, WI);
* coordinates several regional conferences (for example, 
  April 3-5 in Salem OR and May 1-3 in Battle Creek MI);
* publishes a journal on PEG access called "Community Media
  Review" (the current issue features "youth & media");
* produces the annual Hometown Video Festival (this year's 
  deadline for the over 120 top awards is February 21, 1997);
* offers the "Community Media Resource Directory" which 
  provides information on almost 1,000 PEG access 
  organizations nation-wide;
* offers regular public policy updates; 
* hosts an on-line electronic mailing list ("listserv");
* publishes informative booklets and directories (published 
  this year: "1996 Hometown Video Festival Program Catalog," 
  "Successfully Negotiating a Franchise Renewal," "Alliance 
  for Community Media State and Local Advocacy Handbook," 
  and "1997 Service Directory"); and 
* has over 1,200 active individual and organization members 
  nation-wide!


> 3) Do you have any advice as to negotiating strategies with the
> City regarding preservation of Public Access television? Has
> this wheel been invented somewhere already? 

Yes and yes! Get copies of our new booklets "Successfully Negotiating
a Franchise Renewal" (Alliance members: $30, general public: $40)
and "Alliance for Community Media State and Local Advocacy Handbook"
(Alliance members: $25, general public: $30). 

But above all, become a member of the Alliance! Subscribing 
membership is $60 and Basic Affiliate organizational membership is 
$500. (For more information about other levels of membership and the 
various benefits, contact Kelly Matthews at 202-393-2650, extension 
17, or kmatthews@alliancecm.org)

In 1997, the Alliance will be:
* building its membership through a no-cost "advocates" level;
* researching and mobilizing for state-level telecommunications 
  legislation;
* assisting local media activists by distributing free copies of
  videos and booklets on "ACCESS: Building Community through Media;"
* coordinating "town meetings" to start public access in targeted 
  communities;
* working with allies such as AIVF, ITVS, NFCB and NAMAC to build
  a positive awareness of the importance of media diversity; and
* laying the political foundation for the passage of the 
  "Telecommunications Access Act" which will TRULY mandate PEG
  access support at the local level!

So many good reasons to join the Alliance -- especially if you really 
care about the future of public access television and local community 
media!

In alliance,

-- Barry
_________________________________________________
Alliance for Community Media
666 11th Street, NW, Suite 806, Washington, DC 20001-4542
Voice: (202) 393-2650  Fax: (202) 393-2653
"Ensuring everyone's access to electronic media since 1976."

Barry Forbes, Executive Director
"Do what's right. Do it right. Do it right now."
_________________________________________________

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