 Printer friendly version |
 E-mail to a friend |
Updated Saturday, December 12, 2009 8:25 PM
Cable One to end free public access broadcasts
BY KATHY WILLIAMS
HERALD DEMOCRAT
Churches, non-profit groups and individuals who currently use public access air time on Cable One will have to pay to lease those spots beginning Dec. 27.
Just a little more than a year ago, not only did the cable television company offer free access to its air time, but it also trained people in video production, allowed them to check out equipment for free and provided technical support and studio space. That was back when Cable One had franchise agreements with cities that it won through a competitive process. To offer those services cost Cable One a little over $100,000 a year, company representatives told Sherman City Council at the time. In 2008, those agreements expired and cable television franchises were awarded on a statewide basis.
With no requirements for public access and with economically troubled times, Cable One has reduced what it offers for free. However, even the state franchise agreement requires a "programming input point" for public entities like cities and school districts, said Cable One General Manager Claude Edwards. Cable One will not produce the programs anymore. The city of Sherman, the only local public entity that currently televises its meetings, will have to transfer the video from the camera to a DVD for cablecast. The city gets a franchise fee from the company of 6 percent of its revenues. That's up from 5-percent the city got under the old system and the additional money was intended to compensate somewhat for the reduction in free services.
Sherman City Manager George Olson praised Edwards for his efforts to support the city during the transitions. And Olson said Friday, the city will continue to broadcast its meetings. The broadcasts might not have some of the niceties, like formal titles, at least for the first few meetings after Dec. 27.
Grayson County Commissioners Court toyed with the idea and broadcast a few of its meetings, however it no longer does so and has yet to devise a means to video the meetings and broadcast them.
"Those folks (not public entities) who are currently doing program that is a free public access currently will have the ability if they want to lease a spot, can do it that way," Edwards said. "The cost depends on the time of day, how many hours they want. ... They will just contact us and we will send them a price list. That will range from a few dollars an hour to $20-$30 an hour."
Some entities, like churches, book several time slots throughout the week to ensure shut-ins have several opportunities to view services. Before Cable One ceased offering equipment, studio space and technical assistance last year, many local non-profits aired programming. Red Cross and Texoma Council of Governments and CASA had programs that educated people about emergency preparedness, preventing child abuse, elder care and similar issues. The League of Women Voters candidate forums were broadcast so voters unable to attend the events could still hear candidates answer questions.
Edwards explained that the company no longer offers any assistance with production, including for the leased spots.
"That's one of the things we have just gotten out of because it's too expensive; it just won't support itself," Edwards said. He added that between 20 and 30 organizations and individuals currently use public access.
Edwards said his station is not looking at lease access as a revenue producing activity, "If folks want to produce their own programming and schedule it to air and purchase an hour or two to do that, we don't have any problem with that, we've got a schedule available. But it's not a program that supports itself."
Edwards said those who want to lease space should send Cable One a letter requesting space. The company will send back a lease access proposal that has all the prices and the contract language, the legal requirements that they have insurance against violating copyrights or producing obscene material that must be signed.
The availability of public access television programming is a hot topic nationally. The Community Access Preservation Act, which U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin introduced this year, would require the Federal Communications Commission to study the effect of changes in state laws and franchise agreements on public access to the airways. Television broadcast and cable stations, because federal law acknowledges that the airways belong to the public, are subject to legal requirements guaranteeing access by the public.
"Nationwide, many community access television stations have been forced to shut down or severely limit their operations as a result of a combination of state law changes and FCC decisions, which cable television operators are claiming permit them to eliminate funding and important in-kind support they have traditionally provided to local community access television channels," the Alliance for Community Media says on its Web site in an article about the proposed legislation.
The Alliance says that some community programing, which includes public, educational and government broadcasts, are now incurring charges and being broadcast in low resolution and otherwise poor quality.
"Local access channels bring unique voices, perspectives and programming to television," Baldwin said. "The nature of television programming is changing, as are the methods in which that programming is delivered. These changes should not come at the expense of the diversity and vibrancy of local voices."
 Comments ... 19 found!
So much is wrong here : 5/20/2010
First, Commercial Leased Access, NOT Public Access, Education or Government Channels, is the only thing that is FEDERALLY MANDATED by the Feds. Section 532 Part 47 of the 1996 Telecommunications Act explains this fully. The above quote from the cable manager of $30-$40 an hour is a crock. There is NO wiggle-waggle. The hourly rate is based upon the number of subscribers the cable operator has.
Cable companies HATE being made to have local programming - even if it's paid for and produced by someone else - because they don't like opening up a channel without big profits. But that's the law and cable operators lose all the time in the courts and to the FCC over this issue.
Kevin
Whiners : 2/3/2010
Whiners, wanting everything for free. Sounds like comments from people that got their cable shut off for not paying their bill.
Gees
Public Access : 1/13/2010
Cable One, by using the cable system - through which the cable is laid though out the city have the same responsibilities that are required concerning the public airwaves. It is understandable for them to stop providing free equipment, training, and production; but stopping free access is different. Integrity is dieing in America, and hiding behind a corporation does not change this. Cable One and those employees that work for them need to hang they heads in shame. Satellite TV will profit from this (I am proof of that) - your greed will cost you, yet it is not the finical aspect I refer to, it is the moral one; but you have to make a living, right - I have heard street walkers make the same excuse.
Brent B.
: 12/17/2009
Adios public access broadcasts.
So long, farewell, good bye, and
Thank you!
Grayson County viewing
Re: Buck : 12/17/2009
It's not clear what you're blaming the reporter for.
The article clearly states that anyone producing a program will have to find and pay for their own facilities *AND* pay for the air time. Despite what you say about Public Access programming time being free, the article--including a quote from the cable company manager--clearly states Cable One *will* charge for the telecast time.
The situation sucks, but the reporter did her job well.
Mark
cable one : 12/17/2009
why dont they just increase the rates for customers by $0.50 per bill and will cover it????
solution
Cable One big ripoff : 12/16/2009
Cable one could give free public tv, to churches
and non profit orgs, and tack it off there taxes
but they mack so much money from us suckers, they
dont need to, I went with Dish satellite, its cheaper
better quality, more for the money. oh yea and they dont say will be there between 8am and when ever we
feel like it when theres a problem
Rather watch paint dry than watch cable one
Cable : 12/16/2009
It is ashame that no one in the Texoma area can get decent TV with out cable. The cable channels are not that great with their programs, and the cost is way to expensive. Having to HAVE cable to watch the tube is insane. The area needs more COMPETITION for cable tv companies. We need a choice, these companies are a monopoly.
TMCDANIEL
Need Time Warner Cable : 12/15/2009
I have lived in four different Texas cities in the past 5 years and I pay more for Cable One, getting less service, than in any of the other cities. I got Digital Cable with the DVR, HBO & Cinemax channels and high speed Internet for less than $100 a month with Time Warner in McKinney... now I pay $130 for cable with a DVR and high speed Internet... no premium channels... I can't believe they claim they can't afford anything! They need competition.
Cable One is a ripoff!
It never ceases to amaze me... : 12/14/2009
Take away friendly competition, or the risk of contract renegotiation, and the paying public loses. Interesting that Cable One is saying that they are dropping a free service. My forever rising monthly cable bill tells me they are removing a service we are paying them for, just to make their bottom line look better. For shame.
I will be eagerly awaiting my rebate for this diminished level of service.
An Unhappy Subscriber
EWTN : 12/14/2009
What about EWTN? Will that CONTINUE 24 hours a day? if so, why? Why does the government get theirs free? Seeking another cable company......
Does it even matter?
NO COMPETITION : 12/14/2009
It is due to CableOne's not having any competition eg comcast, ATT etc.. Why arent those entities allowed in our city???
Steve Ross
evil cable corporations : 12/14/2009
In Canada some towns have a not for profit company running the local cable and internet.
we should change the tax codes on cable corporate profit
and give breaks to non profit cable operators
, but for now lets take a large AX to the cable trunk lines.
I tape town meetings
PEG : 12/13/2009
This article is typical of Public Access Facilities where the reporter blurs the distinction between the person producing a program and cable company televising the program. She says that “Churches...will have to pay to lease those spots beginning Dec. 2.” Public Access is guaranteed to be free by the Cable Act, but the production facilities are negotiated for in the franchise agreement. In my community, Nevada County, CA, the government negotiated with Comcast to include business use for select commercial producers to play on the public facilities at cable subscribers and taxpayers expense. In effect creating a ministry of information that calls itself Nevada County Television a 501(c)3. In fact, it is not non profit or registered with the state or federal government as one. Neither the FCC or Attorney General will stop this nation wide fraud by cable operators and governments that profit from excluding the public debate.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars in secret advertising revenues are created and programed on NCTV, the public access channel to the cable subscribers who pay for and are taxed for non commercial television.
What is the point of reporting that 160 million cable viewers are deprived of the services they pay and are taxed for when no paper or television will permit the public to hear it.
Buck Stoval
Public Access : 12/13/2009
We, in Long Beach CA have similar experience! After 25+ years and over 100 volunteer producers Charter Cable CLOSED our doors! In the 1970's when cable came knocking on the doors of cities ,wanting to come in and lay cable..the FCC determined that a "Public Right of Way" was involved and ruled that in return for granting use of the "public right of way" to cable companies, they wer to give the cities "Public Education an Government channels (PEG)...now they are taking the "Public" part away..it is NOT RIGHT!
Judy Baker, Long Beach, CA
No surprise here : 12/13/2009
In my opinion this move shows a real lack of social responsibility on the part of Calbe One. The program does not have to support itself, the subscribers have supported it each month as they paid their cable bills.
Cable One Subscriber
A Shame : 12/13/2009
This is a shame. It's all about the money and profits. My cable bill hasn't ever gone down a penny so I am not sure where the money is going but whatever.
Cable One Subscriber
Shocker : 12/12/2009
I am suprised, I thought that like radio stations, the public access content was an FCC requirement.
suprised
: 12/12/2009
How sad...
End of an era
Terms & Conditions
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of the authors. Heralddemocrat.com does not guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.
Comments do not display immediately due to manual review. Comments are reviewed periodically throughout the day. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
|
|
|
| 
LOCAL AND WIRE 
RSS Feeds 