L A CITY COUNCIL TO SEIZE PUBLIC CABLE CHANNELS
http://www.fulldisclosure.net/news/2008/11/l-city-council-to-seize-public-cable.html
Internet Exclusive: Video News Blog (12 min)
Los Angeles, CA. The Full Disclosure Network® presents an exclusive video report on how the L. A. City Council is prepared to seize control of the public access cable channels. Having conducted almost invisible public input and debate on 2007 state legislation that revised the City’s franchising powers regarding public access requirements, this video reveals the City is going to take over control of the public channel operations and content.
Under the City plan, Time Warner will apparently go unchallenged regarding the closing of all fourteen public access cable studios and channels previously required under cable franchise agreements. Instead, the city is opting for only four government controlled channels. Local public cable television producers who oppose the city’s seizure of the channels are looking into to legal action to restore the 14 public channels.
Appearing in this 12 minute Video News Blog are: :
· Councilman Tony Cardenas, Chairman Council Committee on ITA
· David R. Hernandez, Civic Activist & Producer http://savepublicaccess.wordpress.com/
· Morris Griffen, Community Activist & Producer
· Devon Shane, Independent Producer
· Leslie Dutton, Full Disclosure Network Producer & Host
· ITA Staff members and Representative from the City Attorney’s office.
The City plan makes no requirement for a dedicated channel for public use. The recommendation was approved the Council Committee on Information Technology Agency & General Services (ITAGS) on Tuesday, November 11, 2008. With the apparent backing of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and after the proposal sat “in committee” for almost two years, an ITA staff member finally and publicly presented a report to Council Committee members Bernard Parks and Chairman Tony Cardenas, who appeared , in the video, to be surprised about the impending death of the public access cable channels.
The Council Committee’s action is expected to be ratified at a meeting of the full Council on Tuesday, November 25 (agenda item 16).
At the end of the video viewers are asked to click on the link below where they can send an automated letter to each and every one of the City Council members, City Attorney, City Controller and the Mayor.
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