[Peace-discuss] cable access threat: are we doing anything on this

[Rich]

Is anybody working on this?

Democracy Now!:
Local Public Access TV Under Attack From Trio of Congressional Bills

Local public access television across the United States is being
threatened by legislation introduced in both the U.S. Senate and
House of Representatives.

Proponents of the legislation claim that the bills will breakdown
monopolies in the cable industry and open the door to increased
competition. But critics say the trio of Congressional bills will
lead to the elimination of public access television in this country.

Senate Bill 1504 - the Broadband Investment and Consumer Choice Act -
was introduced in July by Republican Senators John Ensign of Nevada
and John McCain of Arizona. According to the bill, the act would
"eliminate government managed competition of existing communication
service" and "provide parity between functionally equivalent
services."

Essentially, the legislation would eliminate a requirement for
telecommunications companies to pay franchise fees to local
municipalities. These fees are required as compensation to the
community for use of the public right of way through which the
companies route cables and utilities. By eliminating the franchise
fees, the bill will eliminate the only source of funding that the
public access provider receives.

The bills would also replace local cable franchises with national
franchises and the concern is that this will take control and
oversight away from local government as well as cut channel capacity
for public, educational and governmental access channels or PEGs. 


		
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