Call to action!

Release Date: November 21, 2008

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)

http://fulldisclosure.net/Blogs/61.php

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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FOR GOVERNMENT USE

 

Tags: city council, free speech, full disclosure, public access