The attack on Public Access is not just a local issue.

 

Every Monday evening for more than a decade in Portage, Indiana, Gordon Bloyer stirred up trouble. The middle-aged, mustachioed Bloyer used his 6:30 p.m. television talk show to lambast elected officials in the city of 35,000 on the shore of Lake Michigan. Not only were Portage politicians powerless to cancel the Gordon Bloyer Show — although at times they tried — they also were, in a sense, subsidizing Bloyer’s attacks on them: His show appeared on public access television. “People would get all upset,” Bloyer says, sounding satisfied. “So I figured that’s good.”

Now, Bloyer is up against a foe he can’t beat. AT&T, looking for a fast track into the TV business, recently persuaded the Indiana legislature to move most aspects of cable regulation from the local level to the state level. A little-noticed byproduct of the new law is that independent local voices such as Bloyer’s are being squeezed off the air. In fact, late last year many public access channels in northwest Indiana went dark.

If the Internet were an adequate replacement for TV, she says, you’d see big media companies giving up their cable channels. It’s no wonder why they haven’t, Popovic says. “This is prime real estate.”

For the full story click here….

http://www.governing.com/articles/0802tv.htm

As a producer of Public Access Shows (152 in the last 2 1/2 years), I am concerned that this valuable service is proposed for elimination.  Originally, Public Access services were required of all Commercial Cable Companies by Federal Law.  I believe that that Federal Law is still in effect but the change-over from Los Angeles City-control to California State-control of the Public Access System is associated with the closure of our Public Access Studios.  What this will do to TV stations that display the shows (including my YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL shows) is hard to say … but I am assuming that all Public Access shows will be off the air.

 

This is a major loss to Free Speech and the public’s access to information which is not provided on the usual commercial TV stations.

 

Please help us, the producers of Public Access TV Programs, to continue our activities.

 

Thank you,

 

Daniel Wiseman

Founder, YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL (Public Access, TV) programs

Some of your comments

 

 

Marie   San Pedro

 Posted: 09:30 am [PST] on September 30 2008

 

It is awful that Senior Citizens have to buy the cable box then worry how to connect the thing. GIVE US A BREAK

 

 

Ana   Trinidad

 Posted: 09:26 am [PST] on September 30 2008

 

Public Access Channels are the only ones not owned by big corporations. It is the only media format where the people actually mandate what is being fed to them. It is a platform for community organizing and expression. Without which, many would have little to no contact or context to what really goes on in marginalized communities which unfortunately are primarily of color. You will be doing a great disservice to youth and fledgling producers, who like myself would have never had the opportunity or the access to video equipment.

 

 

alan gorg   venice, california

 Posted: 08:47 am [PST] on September 30 2008

 

Public access provide the only TV not censored by companies or government. Stopping it is an attack on freedom of speech and the welfare of the public.

 

 

Jennifer Reed   San Fernando Valley

 Posted: 08:11 am [PST] on September 30 2008

 

THIS is definitely a LOSE-LOSE for the PEOPLE of Los Angeles. City Council is VIOLATING the spirit of PUBLIC ACCESS — you need to REDO this legislation and reinstate the public airwaves NOT controlled by the CITY. You took away something that belonged to THE PEOPLE. Shame on the legislators who thought that cable companies could just write a check and wash their hands of this responsibility. This isn’t a “revenue source” for CITY GOVERNMENT. This is a benefit for the PEOPLE who should have public access free from government control. Don’t SHUT DOWN MY public access stations.

 

 

Jack Kennedy   MA

 Posted: 09:06 am [PST] on September 29 2008

 

The situation in LA is a dark reminder that municipalities are as big an impediment to cable access TV as are the cable and phone companies.

 

 

RB   Wis

 Posted: 07:43 am [PST] on September 29 2008

 

You might want to tell the folks out there about YouTube. It’s the new way for the public to express themselves and not be limited to the boundaries of cable TV.

 

I produced programs for public access for nearly 3 years and got feedback from about 3 people; which is typical for producers. I was on the board for about 3 more years and heard occasionally from people complaining how awful public access was while others that didn’t watch it were praising the value of it. But then I went to YouTube, and Revver, and BlipTV, and several others to get lots and lots of feedback and actual reports showing people were watching. I like the feedback.

 

I think public access is great, but the times are a changing. I don’t produce for public access anymore. I don’t need it, and I didn’t watch the video above on public access – I watched it on this new thing called the Internet. That’s were television is migrating to, so I suggest checking out the migration route.

 

 

Moira Foxe   Redondo Beach

 Posted: 05:30 pm [PST] on September 28 2008

 

Public Access survival should be a priority for any public official!

 

 

Bob Boermeester   Massachusetts

 Posted: 10:27 am [PST] on September 28 2008

 

Remember who elected you! Stop trying to silence the public by eliminating public access television or we, the public, will silence you by voting you out of office. We can speak louder than you.

 

  

 

  

Future of Public Access

There is a problem facing a segment of the independent producing community in Los Angeles.  

 

Beginning January 1st 2009  the City of Los Angeles has notified independent producers that 1220cable access channels and production facilities  will close. These studios and channels have been financed and maintained for the last 20 years by  Time Warner cable in leiu of a 2% franchise fee in Los Angeles.

 

These studios and channels also serve as public access community media centers; checking out portable mini-DV production kits and providing non-linear edit bays for hundreds of producers free of charge. The physical loss of equipment, personnel, and channel air time, will be due to the fact that the City of Los Angeles has failed their obligation to provide the public access facilities when Time Warner opts out under the new State Franchise Law.  

 

The obligation of the City to continue operations of public access studios and channels, were originally created by the Federal Communications Act that was later amended to give local authority for their operation. 

 

 Under the new State Franchise system now in place, the City’s failure to exercise the operation of the channels and replace the studios, in a timely manner may jeopardize public’s use of the cable access channels, and by default, allow Time Warner to take them over for commercial use.  

 

This would be the loss of a valuable PUBLIC ASSET.  These public channels have provided an open forum where producers are free to display their creations and more importantly, inform the public as a balance to the government cable channels that are operated by the City.

 

Beginning January 1 a new State law, called DIVCA or the Digital Infrastructure & Video Competition Act, transfers the responsibility of maintaining access studio operations to the individual ci ties throughout California.  We see an unfortunate trend unfolding across the country where many cash strapped cities are choosing to abandon their access systems rather than refit them for the digital age. 

 

 At best only a few cities have had the courage and insight to tackle these problems head-on while maintaining their commitment to the Public and Independent producers.  It seems fitting that Los Angeles California, the entertainment capital of the world, should be leading the fight for the rights of individual producers to have an outlet to 20 share their creations.  Unfortunately this is not the case.

 

I have not seen one story in Los Angeles concerning the loss of access television in either print or on our local TV news.  Our city leaders seem at a loss as to how to use this protected resource while big cable is glad to see it finally out of their hands.  If someone doesn’t speak up for this resource that is not directly associated with its operation, how can we expect it to survive?  

 

In a report regarding the future of access, the ITA or Information Technology Agency warns that if the city does not find a way to use its access channels they may be lost forever.

 

Though viewing options are ever expanding, we may be set to lose one of the most important and often ignored choices.  The choice that means; local creative individuals are what make up the bedrock of any community and protecting their right to create is something that will benefit us all.

 

As the access system waits in limbo, it is important that advocates step forward to remind our political and corporate leaders of their responsibility to maintain open and free outlets of communication.  By monitoring the quickly moving battle for a vital and productive access system, we can ensure that at the core of our

great country lies the freedom of the individual to create and share ideas.